#tommy being able to be ok with touch again is something that is so important 2 me.......

[infizero-draws]

./hug

[sleepywinchesters]

"Go for Kinard."

"What exactly are you doing with my daughter?" Maddie's voice was a low growl.

Tommy slapped his hand over the microphone, as if Maddie could hear his sharp inhale over the static. He turned to glare at the young woman in the co-pilot seat.

"You didn't tell your mother we were going up today?"

"Dad said it was fine."

"Chim said it was- oh my god."

If Tommy didn't need both his hands to keep them steady, he'd pinch the bridge of his nose. Someday one of the Buckleys were going to kill him and he was starting to suspect it might be Maddie.

"You know what I said-"

"That both of them had to agree."

"Tommy," Maddie's voice crackled through the headset again. "Is Jee flying a helicopter right now?"

"Technically, no."

"He won't let me touch anything yet, Mom."

"And he's not going to."

"Dad said it was fine!"

"And I'll be talking to him later too. Get back safe."

"We will." Tommy ended the communication.

He'd learned a long time ago to wait it out and he would get an explanation. It probably wouldn't be a good explanation, but it would be one. Jee remained uncharacteristically quiet as they flew over LA, Tommy narrating the controls and what a standard flight plan should look like.

"I'm sorry I lied about telling my mom."

Tommy waited, knowing more was coming.

"Just after the fires last year. I could have helped, there would have been fewer casualties. Dad's fire thing- being able to control it. I'm more powerful than he is, Tommy."

"Because it feeds you."

It shouldn't have been unexpected. Haechis were known for their ability to prevent fire, and hybrids weren't rare. When combined with Maddie's vampirism, the way she fueled herself in a way that also helped people, Jee-Yun was always going to be something special. Ever since Jee had figured out she could control fire, could gain her energy from it, there was only ever going to be one path for her. They had all known it, and Tommy hadn't thought twice when she had approached him for flying lessons.

"I mean, yeah. But I could have saved people. That whole neighborhood-"

"I know."

"I'm 18 in 3 months. Once I graduate in May I can head right into the academy. If I already have a provisional pilot's license by the time I graduate-"

"I get it. I do. But-" Tommy cut himself off with a sigh. "It's not just the technical skills. They're important. But, Jee, you also have to learn where the limits are. When you have to turn back, no matter how many people you think you can save."

"Then what's the point of knowing all this, of having this, if I can't save everyone."

"Because you can't. You can't save everyone every time. You can try like hell, but losing people is part of the job. You need to know that now and really think about if you can live with that."

"Ok." Jee was subdued, chastised in a way Tommy hadn't been intending.

"You call it when there's no chance left. You always try. But you have to come home, not just so you can try again on the next call. Because there's people who love you, who understand the risks you take, and still need you to come home."

"This is what I want. But, if I tell you something, can you not tell Uncle Buck?"

"Go for it."

"It's a lot of pressure. I mean how many times has Mom won dispatcher of the year? And Dad's done almost everything there is to do in the department- and every probie from the last 5 years is ready to marry him. Uncle Buck is-" Jee hesitated. "I don't know if I could even imagine half the stuff he's supposed to have done."

"He did it all right," Tommy said. "And half the time he shouldn't have."

Jee laughed a little. That was the common refrain that followed any story about her favorite uncle.

"How can I live up to that though?"

"You don't. Even when we're on the ground, it's different for us up here. We're involved, but we see the bigger picture." Tommy angled the helicopter, knowing they were almost to the burn scar from the previous year. "Look at it. You know what it looked like then, how the ground crews were managing the fire lines. But up here, we can see the whole neighborhood. What would you have done, if you had enough to drop one more round of supressant before having to go back?"

"Well, they-"

"I know what was done. What would you do?"

"The main street. The ground crews were so focused on the fire line they didn't notice it had jumped until there were already structures on fire while evacuations were still ongoing. No one could get out from how fast it was moving. I'd try to push the fire back over the line and do my last drop on the main street instead of the main fire."

"Good. You have the instincts for it. The benefit of hindsight sure, but yeah. You can do this, you can move the fire where you want it to go. You get the other part of it too. You gotta give yourself time, kid."

Jee smiled. "I just don't want to disappoint anyone."

"Well, you definitely disappointed your mom today. But I don't think you're going to disappoint any of them when you do this job."

"So you'll take me up again and tell Mom that it's ok."

Tommy pointed at her. "I didn't say that. You're gonna face her and take whatever punishment she doles out as an adult."

"Ok."

"I'll talk to her though. Because you need a bird's eyes view to be great. If, and only if, she agrees, then I'll teach you for real."

"Thanks. Let's head back. Better not give her time to stew."

"Good call."

[zafirosreverie]

Can you make a Agatha x reader where Agatha accidentally blast reader with her magic and is unconscious but can here everything. And she can hear Agatha trying to wake her up but for some reason she can’t wake up so Agatha takes care and of her until she wakes up. But reader hears everything Agatha says to her. With a good and fluffy ending please. I love you work it gives me life🥰!!!!

Aww that's so sweet of you love! Thank you so much!

This ended up being longer than i intended but i loved writing it! I hope you enjoy it and that it was what you expected ❤

Warnings: angst but a happy ending

The day that time stopped (Agatha x Fem!reader)

Ah, shit. Well, you fucked up. 

You were making a cake for your and your girlfriend to celebrate your birthday (even when you knew the date didn’t matter in the current reality of Westview), when you noticed you were out of sugar. You rolled your eyes at the cliché of the scene, pretty sure it was Westview wanting you to play the neighbor that asked for sugar, but ever since you arrived at the town, you had no intention to follow Wanda’s script unless it was necessary and it involved a scene with Agatha. 

“If I’m going to play a character, I’m gonna be the lesbian neighbor” you once said to your girlfriend, making the witch laugh. Later, when Tommy and Billy started calling you and Agnes “aunts”, you winked at her and celebrated the promotion to “lesbian aunt”. 

Smiling at the memory, you decided to ask Agatha to magically appear sugar. You knew she hated when you asked her to use her magic for something so simple, but also knew she wasn’t able to say no to you, especially on your birthday. Never was, never will.

Smirking, you had gone to the basement, not really paying attention. Your mistake. The first rule of dating a witch is to always be careful when she was doing magic.

“Ags, can you help me with th-”  You stopped talking when everything turned black.

“Y/N!”

Agatha ran to you when you fell unconscious to the floor. She was making a spell that would allow her to knock out Wanda for a moment, enough to let her steal her magic and run with you. She was so concentrated that she didn’t hear your steps and your voice made her jump. 

“Y/N” she said again, gently moving you, trying to wake you up. You didn’t answer. That’s when she noticed her hands were still glowing and she gasped in horror. She used the spell in you. The spell that was meant for a powerful magic being, used in a human. 

“I’m fine, dear. But woah, if you wanted to have me on the floor, i know a better way” You joked, trying to get up. But you couldn’t. In fact, you couldn’t move at all. “What the- Aggie? A little help?” You said, or, actually thought. Your mouth wasn’t moving, and you couldn’t even open your eyes. “Oh. Oh no”.

You knew this place. It was your mind. You were trapped in your mind. Well, shit.

“Y/N, love, please answer me” You heard Agatha saying and you knew she was scared. You felt her magic wrapping around you, and a string pulling from the back of your mind, trying, begging you to wake up. But it didn’t work. 

Agatha felt tears begin to fill her eyes. Her magic wasn’t working. Why wasn’t it working?!

“Please, please, wake up dear” She whispered, pushing her magic harder.

“I’m trying!” You thought, starting to worry. If she couldn’t help, how could you get out of here? You didn’t want to spend the rest of your life trapped in your mind. 

“Hon, don’t do this to me. Please don’t” she begged, a little desperate. It broke your heart hearing her like that.

“I’m trying, doll, but i can’t.” You thought, wishing you could do something to make her feel better. You knew she was always afraid of hurting you with her magic, and you managed to convince her that it wouldn’t happen, but now, you weren’t sure how you’ll manage to calm her after this ended. At least, you hoped it would end.

Agatha felt the tears rolling down her cheeks when she realised her magic wouldn’t be enough to wake you up. She hated herself at that moment. How could she hurt you like this? 

“I’m so sorry love, please forgive me” she whispered, pressing a kiss on your temple, taking you in her arms and carefully lifting you. She used her magic to make the spell book follow her as she took you to your shared bedroom. 

You felt her put you in the bed gently, before climbing next to you. She put your head on her lap while she quickly turned to the book, trying to find something, anything, that could help you.

“I’m gonna fix this, love, I promise” you heard her say, while one of her hands caressed your cheek. It made your fears disappear, you knew she would never stop until she made you wake up. 

“It’s ok pumpkin, take your time” you thought, wanting to hold her hand. 

Agatha read as fast as she could, anxiety blooming in her chest. It has to be something she could do, anything. She cursed herself for not being more careful, she should have closed the door to the basement, she should have heard your steps. She should have waited to do the spell, and spend the day with you instead, like you asked. It was your birthday, for lord’s sake! 

“I’m sorry, dear, I’m so sorry” she mumbled again, knowing you couldn’t hear her, but needing to say it anyway. Her free hand going up and down your arm in an attempt to calm herself. Her heart stopped for a moment when she read the last part of the spell. 

Time. It was a matter of time.

“No” she whispered and you worried. “Wait? That 's all?! I can’t wait!” she growled and you felt her throwing the book to the other side of the room. You would have jumped if you could. Agatha sighed and turned to you, gently touching your face. She knew the book was right, she just had to wait and pray for you to wake up soon.

“I should have listened to you” she whispered in your hair, pulling you closer to her “when you asked me to spend the day with you, I should have taken you in my arms and carried you to bed again. Even better, I shouldn't have even got up. I should have keep you with me” 

Your heart melted at her words. When you woke up that morning, you had covered her face with small kisses, waking her up too. You giggled when she pouted at the early hour and you reminded her it was your birthday, kissing her again before pulling her over you. She had chuckled and joked about you wanting her at all times. She wasn’t wrong.

But when you asked her to spend the day with you, she sighed and told you she had to practice the spell so she could be ready to steal Wanda’s powers. It made you pout, but you understood that she had more important things to do. Agatha promised you to spend the rest of the day with you after she was done. Too bad you weren’t that patience and fucked it all up.

What a way to spend your birthday. Trapped in your mind while your girlfriend was having a crisis trying to wake you up. Great, just great. 

“If any ancient and mystic force is listening, please don’t take her away from me” She whispered suddenly, hugging you tighter.

When she was a young witch, her mother and the rest of the coven would often say there were other forces, stronger than witches, and that they’d help them when their magic wasn't enough. But she never believed that. For Agatha, a witch that relied on other than her magic, was weak and not worthy of being a witch at all. 

That was until she met you and she was afraid of her magic for the first time. You were just a human, but you meant the world for her and her magic could be too much for you to handle. A witch afraid of her power was a dangerous thing.That’s why she didn’t tell you she was a witch until you made clear you were serious with her. 

It was a huge relief when you looked at her with wonder in your eyes after she told you. She was afraid you would be scared and run away from her, but you had been eager to be part of her world, to learn everything she had to teach you, to understand and support her. She loved you more than anything.

Except power. A voice said in her head, making her feel guilty. Her hunger for power made her often leave you alone for days, even months. She never thought too much about it because when she came back, you were always there, waiting for her. You never complained about it, never said you felt alone, even when she saw it in your eyes. You never tried to change her. 

And it hurted her heart, realising how much you loved her. You didn’t say it out loud too often, but you were always making small things to prove it. And she took them for granted. But now, she saw how little she did for you, how small it was what she gave you, when you always gave her the world. Your world.

“I’m so sorry” she cried again, kissing you softly “I promise i will never leave you alone again, love. I promise i will give you everything i have, everything i am”

You frowned in your mind. You were heartbroken. You didn’t want to hear her like that.

“You already did it, Aggie” you thought “You give me all I want everyday you share your world with me. Every time you answer my questions, no matter how simple they are, when you allow me to watch you do magic, when you hug me, every kiss you give me. That’s all i want, and you give it to me everyday”.

“I’m so sorry i make you wait for me for too long” she said, unaware of your thoughts “It isn’t fair for you, I shouldn’t take your presence for granted” her tears falling to your face as she kissed you again.

“Please don’t cry, love” you begged on your mind. Stupid spell. Then, you remembered watching a documentary when you were alone in a hotel room, waiting for her to return from a reconnaissance trip.

It was about how human’s mind can be powerful and even made some people recover from serious injuries. At that moment, you laughed and thought it was a silly idea, but hearing Agatha like that, was enough to try anything. 

“I don’t deserve you” you heard the witch whispering. She sounded so broken. 

“Ok, that’s enough” you thought and tried again to move. Nothing.

“You’re too much for me” she mumbled.

“Okay, mind. You and I are not understanding each other. Either you help me here or we're going to have serious problems.”

“I promise i will do anything to be worthy of you” one of her tears fell into your own eyelid. 

“WAKE UP!” You thought, desperately “She’s crying! Just wake up, god damnit” You yelled on your mind. But Agatha’s magic was strong and you couldn’t move. It seemed like whoever made that documentary, never met a powerful witch.

You sighed and wanted to cry. But you couldn’t even do that.

____________

Agatha spent all day crying and hugging you, apologizing for what she did to you and promising you she would never use her magic around you ever again. You wanted to tell her it wasn’t her fault and the fact that she wanted to hide what she really was, broke your heart. 

You couldn’t know how much time had passed, but you were sure it was hours. When you felt Agatha changing your clothes gently (with her own hands, not her magic, you noticed), you knew it was night already. You spent your birthday trapped on your mind because you didn’t want to play your role and ask for sugar.

“Goddamnit Y/N” You scolded yourself.

You felt Agatha taking you in her arms again after she changed herself too. She pressed a kiss on your temple and you knew she didn’t stop crying all day. You were sure she didn’t even eat anything. God, it was a nightmare.

___________

Days passed and you were still unconscious. Agatha was so scared and tired. She barely slept and didn't even eat properly. She didn’t want to be away from you for too long, in case you woke up, but her hopes were always shattered when the night came and you didn’t wake up. It all felt like the same day, as if the time had stopped for her.

She didn’t go downstairs. The living room was still decorated with everything you had put for your birthday. At first, she told herself that she didn’t clean anything because you would be awake soon and you two could celebrate. But deep inside, she just wasn’t able to look at the decorations without getting to her knees and cry. She felt so guilty. 

“She just wanted to spend the day, her day, with you Agatha” she scolded herself “You couldn’t even give her a single fucking day” she said angrily. 

How could she claim to love you when she couldn’t even put her hunger for power aside? For just one day? She swore that the moment you wake up, she will take you and leave this hunted town. She will never let her own selfish wishes get between you two ever again. 

“You’re lying” The voice in her head mocked “You know the moment you get the chance to get more power, you’ll put her aside again. You won’t even keep the promise of leaving this place, not until you get that magic”

Agatha gasped when she finally noticed the voice her head was making up. It was her mother’s. She felt herself hit the floor and rested her in the wall, her tears rolling down her cheeks again. She already lost count of how much time she has spent crying in the past days. Much more than she has ever done, that’s for sure. 

It felt like the puzzle of her life was missing a part, and that was you. You were the piece that made her chaos make sense. And she was so lost without you. 

“Aggie” a soft whisper said, too low she almost didn’t hear it. She stood up quickly, but didn’t move. It wasn’t the first time her mind played tricks on her. She had heard your voice a few times, but everytime she ran to your side, you were still unconscious. Not sleeping well was taking its toll.

She was about to sit on the floor again, when she heard the whisper again.

“Aggie”

She didn’t want to get her hopes high again, but she also didn’t want you to wake up without her right next to you. You had already spent too much time waiting for her. 

You groaned when you felt yourself moving. It started subtly, your fingertips tapping on the bed, then your ankles shaking a little. It felt too good having a body again. You couldn’t say it was an awakening, because you’ve been aware of everything the whole time and you actually didn’t sleep at all. It seems like sleeping was for the body, but the mind was always awake, you just weren’t conscious of it.

Being “awake” for days wasn’t as tiring as it sounds, but it was a nightmare because it meant that you were aware of everything. You heard the birds outside your window, you felt the sun on your face, you heard people outside the house. The world kept moving without you. 

But the worst part was hearing Agatha breaking.

You heard all the words she said to you, all her fears, her guilty. You heard the promises she made, the desperation in her voice. You felt how scared of even touching you she was, thinking she would hurt you even more. But hearing her cry until she fell asleep, everynight, too broken and hating herself, god, it was too much. She cried like she never ever cried before, prayed for what she never prayed for. She struggled with heartache and fear. 

Agatha didn’t know, but you made promises to her too.

You promised to be more careful, you promised to always listen to her warnings, to be more patient and wait for her to finish her magic stuff. To always knock on the basement door and wait for her to tell you to come in. But above all, you promised to tell her how much you loved her, to hold her in your arms and do everything you could to make her feel better. You just wanted to erase her pain and guilt.

So, when you finally got your voice back, the first thing you did was calling her name. The syllables felt so good on your tongue. The rest of your body wasn’t awake yet, you couldn’t even open your eyes, but you didn’t mind. You called her, knowing she was always near you, so she would hear you, she had to.

“Aggie” you whispered again, and not even a second later, you heard her footsteps in the hall. She opened the door quickly and almost threw herself to the bed, taking you in her arms.

“Y/N?” she asked softly, staring at you carefully. Her heart stopped when she saw a small smile on your lips. You were awake. You really were awake.

“Hiya, SugarPlum” you said softly, slowly opening your eyes. There was no way in the world you would miss the smile you knew that was blooming on her beautiful face. 

Agatha sobbed a little and smiled at the pet name, while you finally, finally, opened your eyes. 

“Y/N” she whispered, praying this wasn’t another of her dreams.

“Shh, it’s me, I’m here” you assured her, slowly lifting your hand and caressing her cheek. 

The contact was all she needed to finally let herself go. She cried again, but this time, it was full of happiness. She hugged you tightly and kissed you. You happily kissed her back, happy that your body decided to fully wake up at that moment. Without missing a second, you pulled her over you. Agatha giggled a little, but the tears were still rolling down her cheeks. 

You wiped them before you kissed her again. God, how much you missed kissing her. It was different from when she traveled, because this time you were right there, but you couldn’t do anything. 

“I’m sorry” she whispered, hiding her face on your neck “I’m so so sorry”

“Shhh, it’s ok love. It wasn’t your fault” you said, rubbing her back.

“It was. I shouldn’t have-” she started but you have heard it enough when you were trapped.

“leave me behind. Or pushed me. Or taking me granted. Or should have listened to me and spent the day with me” you said, having memorized all her regrets.

Agatha looked at you, confused. You chuckled and caressed her face again. 

“I heard it” you confessed “i heard it all, Atha” 

“You could hear me” she whispered, but it wasn’t a question. You nodded and saw how her face changed between confuseness, happiness and shame. You heard everything?

You giggled, making her look at you again.

“Everything, my love” you said and kissed her again “but let me tell you something. You don’t have to stop using your magic around me. You don’t have to give up who you are for me. I love you, all of you”

“But i- i wasn’t fair to you, i left you and-”

“You didn’t. Everyday I get to be by your side, proves to me how much you love me. Dear, I waited all my life to meet you. Some hours, days, months, doesn’t matter. Because I know you will always come back to me.” 

Agatha was speechless, so she did the only thing she could. She kissed you agains, with all the love she had for you. 

__________

The next day, you two sat in your garden, eating the cake you made, both of you covered in flour from the little war you had in the kitchen. You kissed her cheek and she wrapped an arm around you. 

“I’m sorry i didn’t get you a proper gift” she said and you pressed a finger on her lips. 

“Nope, no more apologies. You promised” you said and she smiled, kissing your finger. “Besides, i don’t know about you, but i think not dying was a pretty good birthday present” 

“Don’t even joke about it” she warned you and you giggled “I’m serious, Y/N” 

“hmmm, add ‘Harkness’ to the last word and you have a deal” you winked and laughed when she blushed. 

You really loved your witch.

[artemuerto]

Shelby Household Manor

Pairing: Thomas Shelby/Male Reader

Trigger Warnings: None. Unnecessary fluff.

Autor Note: You can take this as the original bonus, because while i was doing some research for a new story this idea got stuck in my head, it seems like the Shelby House won't let us go just yet.

Read on AO3

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Leisure

Bonus #2

—7—

His presence was easily known by the man even with his eyes closed. The Shelby’s stayed outdoors for the clear and cloudy mornings were the weather wasn’t freezing. He walked with a slow pace and soon rested his tray on top of the table and while the young servant served the seemly napping Shelby, he could hear the easy, happy giggles from Charlie who was riding his new horse with mister Johnny. The fading clicking sound of the teacup alerted Tommy enough to tilt his head and looked at his servant. In response, the young one smiled brightly and gave the man a cup of warm black tea, it lacked sugar and milk and would never come close to the comfort Tommy felt from whiskey, but the head of the house found himself willing enough to at least indulge his servant into healthier beverages, at least, in the mornings. Later on, would said servant reach out for a bottle and a shiny glass to please his master.

Tommy accepted the cup with a soft lingering touch. Their relationship had grown in the long passing nights turned spring with the breeze of fresh air and blooming of flowers; Tommy was drawn to small, comforting touches that reassured him, his boy was alright. A brush of fingertips when delivering, short glazes in a room full of people, a fleeting hand on a shoulder for a request or the ghost transitory feeling of knuckles behind his back after leaving a room. Mister Shelby’s grown affection was not overbearing but always welcome, it made the boy feel safe. The boy was about to give Tommy another cigarette when Charlie demanded their attention.

Charlie was running toward them, they could hear him as the youngest Shelby scream for his father and later on for the boy standing besides him; Charlie had grown close to the boy to the point where he would only listen to the servant opposite to his father, the rest of the Shelby’s fought over that fact but also loved to tease the poor boy who flustered in shame, muttering apologies. In Charles’ eyes he was part of his family and the Shelby’s not only knew it but accepted as well. Charlie rested in his father’s arms only to beg moments after to be put on the boy’s arms later, even if he was growing tall for the touch to be comforting anymore, Charlie was never denied in cares.

“Dad! I’m able to ride the whole course.” Charlie informed showing his proud smile. The boy had been struggling to stay on his horse long enough to finish his ride around the stables, the animal is not wild but restless, listens to Charlie with a sharp intelligence that only makes Tommy glad but between his boy’s eagerness and the horse’s need to move freely, they have a lot to work on yet. “You should come ride with us.” Charlie said the servant making Tommy have a sip from his tea and wait for a positive answer. The boy smiled not reaching his eyes and shook his head no.

“I don’t ride.” Charlie instead of being sad from that statement looked more perplexed.

“Why?” By now, Tommy’s curiosity was peaked, he didn’t know the answer either.

“I don’t know how to ride a horse.”

And so, of course, that meant both Shelby’s were on their way to teach him how to be on a horse. They didn’t use Charlie’s horse, the poor boy still getting used to Charlie’s way to put him through all that all over again with another person. No, Tommy used one of his own, one horse he used to ride but not for the races, one of the couple he thought truly keeping for himself and finally doing so. The servant followed in awe as his master rode the animal with grace and expertise. Thomas came close to dismount the beast and walked guiding him by the hand so his servant could have a better look. The boy looked strangely afraid and Tommy had to ask.

“Are you alright?” The boy nodded fast and short but Tom was not convinced. Thomas held a hand for his young boy and waited until said boy was braved enough to comply. He could feel the younger one trembling hand.

“I’m scared of horses.” The young one confessed feeling silly for showing such fear in front of a man who could tame them in a heartbeat. Thomas hid a smile for the honesty in his boy’s words and shook his head resting importance to those words, there was nothing wrong with the boy for showing his fears and concerns. Tommy led him to animal and made him touch it first.

“It’s ok, love. He won’t hurt you. All you have to do is know him.” The young boy blushed feeling embarrassed at the dotting manner mister Shelby had, it was not common but not do far fetch and still made him feel odd. The sweet kindness and the share comfort was something he had troubles getting used to, however, mister Shelby never called him on it.

The boy touched the horse’s head and slowly caressed feeling the smoothness of its fur shinning in the morning sun, the animal seemed to catch on his uneasiness and stood still as if waiting to be inspected.

“Hello, beautiful.” The boy continued to feel the horse, slowly getting accustomed as the animal waited and watched, looking pleased to be pampered.

They kept walking around discovering each other under Tommy’s watchful eyes, never he left the servant alone even when Charlie wanted his attention, wanted to play and also ride. Johnny came close after hours stating Tommy was needed in a family meeting. Charlie walked with him by his hand and Tommy on the other side as plans were made for more mornings to come.

—8—

The afternoon sun was dying behind their backs. The young servant had had troubles finding his way and footing closer to the horse but both animal and owner had been patience with his fears, shaky limbs and concerns; by now, the young boy could sit with a saddle on, the first tries had been without one and the boy joked about being a gypsy superstition for his master but after the cold overpowering stared he had for doubting the man’s belief, servant stayed silent accepting his order. Mister Shelby took pity of him and his seemly sadness at not believing his master’s intentions.

“I told you before. You have to know him.” Tommy said placing a comforting hand on his back, low enough to reach the boy’s waist. “If you use a seat right from the beginning, he won’t trust you.” He drank his master’s words and relaxed his shoulders, his whole body turned to the man as his expression let away all his secrets. I’ll trust you no matter what.

He could not lie, the feeling was odd, after struggling to stay on the horse without a saddle, now that he had one —even knowing it should help him now—, he found himself thinking it felt way better being without it. Tommy as if sensing his train of thoughts laughed at his back. For moments, the boy forgot how close they where, mister Shelby convinced him to take a detour as he controlled the horse, riding next to Johnny and Charlie; the young Shelby had been static to know he could keep up with his riding by now, after weeks of practice and a couple of jump scares when he lost control.

The servant boy had fallen not many occasions but one was too many for Thomas’ heart. The Shelby had gone mad in pain seeing how the fragile body of his boy flied seconds before reaching ground with a dry sound, luckily the scared animal had run away from the lying body instead of causing more pain. Tommy had screamed his name in shock and held him in his arms checking he was, in fact, free from harm. The servant was disoriented and his lungs screamed internally for air, but other than bruises, the boy was fine. He had tried to convinced mister Shelby he was ok to walk but the man had refused to let him go, deciding to hold in in his arms and walked all the way back to the house in a steady pace.

He came back to his senses with the strong feeling of Tom’s arms flexing underneath his weight, his warm breath and the beating heart that claimed the servant as his one desire, and the whispering of his master asking whatever deity he believed for the boy to be ok. Needless to say, Charlie stood by his side all night after he went to sleep. What the boy wasn’t sure it was a sleepy dream or a blurry reality was the touch of Tommy’s dry lips on his forehead as he bedded goodnight and a promise of never letting anything happen to him again.

Taking a ride in the afternoons had become a new hobby for the family, Johnny took Charlie while Tommy rode with him, usually letting him practice by taking a hold on the animal and with each passing day, the boy seemed to be getting only better, Charlie used to ask for the servant to ride with him on the way back but Tommy found himself missing the comforting warmth his boy gave to his chest. It was on one of those rides back home where Tommy felt bold enough to make a move.

Feeling the boy shiver due to cold breeze, Tommy made him stay closer, covering him with his coat, he felt the boy melt in his touch and soon, talked in murmurs low enough to make him tremble in a new sense of anticipation. The careful touch of Tommy’s hand through his back, all the way until it rested on his waist, spoke of promises to come.

The slow and smooth steps of the horse only served to make more prominent the sensual touch as they moved as one and finally stood in front of the barn, the sky tainted with dark orange and fading reds. The boy moaned after Tommy left his hands rest on top of the other’s thighs, giving him the freedom to decided, the boy could move away, take Tom’s hands aside and any thought would be forgotten with the sleeping sun, or could let Tommy invaded him forever, made a home for himself within and live under his skin.

Tommy didn’t even try to hide his smirk when his boy’s cheeks lighted in crimson but surprisingly so, his boy retaliated with a kiss.

An innocent touch that connected their lips in a simple brush and took both of their breaths away. Giving Tommy the taste of something so sweet and pure. And his.

[curlewsteph]

COVID THERAPY VIEWING

It’s been a year indeed and a struggle, but when I’ve needed an escape I’ve found solace in some brilliant tv series this year that I want to take a moment to remember. Immersing myself in characters, online discussion, podcasts and more, has kept me going and allowed me to block out everything that 2020 has been when I’ve needed to. This is my first and possibly only Tumblr post but here, the place where I’ve found so much great conversation, fan fic, gif sets and more to add to my enjoyment of my favourite things to watch, seems the best place to leave my own thoughts. So here goes from the year’s beginning to its welcome ending:

TURN - Washington’s Spies

I’ve got a thing for moody Jamie Bell (The Eagle 😍) and discovered TURN last New Year looking for other historical dramas he’d appeared in. These characters completely captured me and drew me into a historical period I’d done my best to avoid since flunking it during A Level history. Abe made quite the most useless spy but his passion and compassion sold him to me. The Culper Ring story is fascinating and the show brought to life the real lives and conflicts of those involved. Intriguing portrayals of morally corrupt characters (Simcoe, Andre etc) who surprise you at every turn kept me gripped and props to some extremely fine acting and characterisation. The found family dynamic of the Culper Ring was a real joy and Brewster will forever be one of my most favourite characters. I wanted more personal development and not really being able to ship Abe with anyone especially was a let down but it was a fine series that really kept me company.

PEAKY BLINDERS

I’ve no idea why it took me so incredibly long to watch this series but having eventually succumbed I was hooked from the very first episode. Brooding, oppressive, threatening yet full of charm and humour with characters that jump out of the screen and take your heart without asking, made it addictive viewing for me this year. The next series is light years away but I’m waiting for you Tommy.

THE 100

Thank all the stars that we had good weather during lockdown because the final series of this post-apocalyptic drama almost ruined my summer. I’ve followed every twist and turn over the past six years, had my Bellarke heart broken time over time, shared the pain and angst of an array of brilliant characters and watched through my fingers when the creators treated legions of fans of all factions, worse than mortal enemies. But the end was coming and I stuck with it - despite my misgivings since the overturning of the Writers Room - buoyed by some hopeful S6 content, but I should have listened harder to my guts. Despite some flickers of promise in S6, it was beyond clear to me that the new writing team simply didn’t have the same connection to the characters and history of the show. Instead of wanting to resolve arcs and reunite characters we’d become inexorably entwined with, the lure of the new and an opportunity to reinvent and take a detour sparkled more brightly to them - something I will never ever be able to fathom. Fans forgotten, long running storylines dropped and characters - including our leads - essentially abandoned and made for a horror show of a final act. S7 broke my heart and I should have seen it coming. When I’ll feel ready to rewatch The 100 again I don’t know, but I’ll end my run when the show should have at the S5 finale and save the CPR scene for an occasional treat. Farewell and May We Meet Again.

THE MUSKETEERS

Salvation comes in leather and 18thC lace. I ADORED this so much! Again I was incredibly late to the party because it seemed such a frivolous show but a Youtube fan vid drew me in and I’m so thankful for it. The plots are mostly light but tackle some important issues, the tension is chest heavingly dramatic and everyone looks astonishing and oh my was this the antidote to an anti-climactic apocalyptic obsession that I needed. There’s humour, kindness, compassion, daring do and a huge dollop of care and an emphasis on the value of friendship too. Clever dialogue, confident female characters, wry humour and some seriously good acting healed my heart. And yes the outfits helped. I loved it all and was transfixed by Tom Burke’s Athos.

STRIKE

...which led me to Strike. I don’t do whodunnits and crime fiction as a rule is just not my thing, usually because the core cast is always too small and I miss the found-family dynamic and they often feel claustrophobic, plus the predictable focus on difficult but supposedly fascinating men in the lead can be dull. In some regards, Strike is no different but Tom Burke’s performance and more significantly Holiday Grainger’s skill in playing Robin and how she transforms the usual “gritty detective with attractive sidekick” dynamic on its head, is really superb. I’ve read the books now too - my first JKRs. Honestly, parts are overwritten and a little indulgent but elements are breathtaking and as she’s so involved in the series too it’s a tie up I became incredibly invested in and the actors on screen are the characters on the page for me too. One does not lose out to the other, which is often the case with dramatisations. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

THE LAST KINGDOM

#TeamUhtred #TeamUhtred #TeamUhtred that’s it, that’s all there is to say, although it’s not obviously. TLK has been a slow burn for me and I began it several times when it was first aired by the BBC. The early series felt small, focussed on a pretty hateful hero who I failed to connect with, but I loved Aethelflaed and her story with Erik and Uhtred’s growing maturity was intriguing too. And then Netflix came in and the show exploded! Better scripts, more than the same 3 locations, impressive costumes and set-piece battles with characters that grew and grew. I rewatched S3 in preparation for S4’s release which I binged in style in lockdown 1 and cried when it ended. Utterly brilliant and a cast of characters that came closest to replicating the joy of my first fandom experience with the outlaws of Robin of Sherwood. Uthred has become a leader, has had to reckon with his responsibilities and shows a tenderness as he’s aged that the young callous warrior lacked. But if it weren’t for his bunch of faithful arselings I wouldn’t be watching at all. Without Finan there is no TLK for me. He’s my favourite character to have emerged in years. It’s the humour, the humanity of him that makes me cheer for him every time - as well as the arms 😍 Long live TLK. Or a final season at least.

VIKINGS (*spoilers for S6b)

2020 ended another long standing favourite series that I’ve followed for years. Unlike The 100 I’m not as deeply invested in this saga but Vikings has kept me company for so long now that the show feels part of me. It’s certainly lost it’s way over time but my favourite characters still shone brightly and those we lost were sent off triumphantly. I’ll forever miss Ragnar and the show lost a lot of its appeal with his passing, but the homage paid to such a talisman of a character was always done well. Later series did feel repetitive and the drama between the Ragnarsson brothers diluted. But Ubbe - my love - stayed true and the ending for him and Hvitserk (I always felt so heart sick for him) both felt fitting. And Bjorn’s final climax was awe inspiring (I do wish the tomb had stayed closed though). I’d have absolutely loved more time to have been spent on Ubbe’s future adventures instead of the endless hours in barren wastelands and storm lashed ships, but what we got was good. As for Ivar... an utterly unforgettable character (performed superbly) who became human again was a journey to behold. I’m glad it went that way but honestly I lost touch with him with all the time spent on the Rus storyline that repeatedly ate its own tail. Getting back to Wessex brought the show full circle and I loved it for that. Farewell Vikings. I hope Ubbe and Torvi are still doing ok in their new Valhalla.

[jq37]

thoughts on this week's ep?

**spoilers for broadway brawl**

***Before we start, I remembered as I was typing this one of the important notes I lost from last week’s recap: Interesting that Christmas seemingly went off without a hitch. I expected Santa to come back into play somehow (like, someone would check on him to make sure Christmas was still on or he’d call them in to help or something) but he hasn’t, at least not yet.***

My guys, my guys, my guys. Was that something or was that something?

I think I am on record as saying that combat is my least favorite part of ttrpgs generally speaking because I’m here for the RP but when a combat episode shines it really freaking shines (see eg: that first combat ep of Bloodkeep where everyone went full Galaxy Brain except for Matt who couldn’t hit a single thing) and this is such a good example. This is easily a top five ep of the season for me, maybe top three so let’s get into it and break down why it was so awesome.

We start right where we left off with Titania and members of her court having come into the theater to beat the tar out of Misty mid-show.

Quick note: At the end of last ep, it was set up so that Misty was thrust on stage right after hearing the mirror was on stage which would place this fight right at the top of Act 2 but at the start of this ep, Brennan seems to indicate that it’s taking place during what would be the closing number. Which would make more sense but imagine you go see a play, the first act is super dope, and then the second act is an insane, minute long fight that’s pretty unconnected to the plot and then a buff, naked, beautiful man tells you the show is over and you should leave. Wild. Anyway.

Pixies with tommy guns in inherently funny.

So one of the things that makes this fight really great is the way it directly ties into the story in a way besides “These bad guys are in our way.” Misty is using this show as a part of her reincarnation spell so if the show is messed up, it fails and she’s on her last life. Brennan has a cool mechanic of making her roll death saves every round at a difficulty lower than her modifier (which is s/t crazy like 11) but that gets harder with damage done to her and performance checks failed by other players who decide to jump on stage. It’s a great way to make the battle feel like it has more personal stakes and it’s my fave original Brennan mechanic since the Family in Flames Sophie’s Choice situation.

(I love that the death save counter is changed for theater comedy/tragedy masks for this. Nice touch.)

Em, Esther, and Wally are also at the fight which is clutch.

Also, Sondheim is specifically here which is an insane detail to add just because.

WILD that no one knows what’s going on with the ritual initially because, as Lou almost does, getting all the civilians out is the smart move and it would COMPLETELY ruin Misty’s plans instantly.

Lou having Kingston take the stairs bc’s he’s 50+ years old and has no time for that nonsense has equal but opposite energy to him doing extra rolls for Fabian to do unnecessary parkour before a simple attack because Fabian’s Like That.

Murph fireblasts the hell out of Titania’s foot soldiers right off the bat from outside of counterspell range which is very cool.

“Give me a performance check for the cockroach.”

“You’re upstaging me bitch?”

Another great thing about this fight is that because of it’s theatrical nature, everyone’s RPing it more than a usual battle ep (or more intensely maybe is what I mean).

Titania hypnotizes Don Confetti and his goons into fighting for her.

“She doesn’t know she’s in a play but she does sing most of her dialogue which is helpful for you.” Titania is just Like That.

Pete drops an erupting earth and drops a sick 37 damage on those same minions Kug got.

I didn’t notice before but yeah, Ally does roll die like a f-ing beyblade champion.

Emily hearing Murph’s low key, offhand comments and cracking up is great.

“Get Sondheim!” (Emily and then Ally: WHAT?!)

Actual living dude Stephen Sondheim being involved in this fight is just so ridiculous and fun and crazy.

We go around to Misty’s turn and she has to beat a 28 (upped from 10) and she fails which feels worse than a normal failed death save somehow.

Lou, in a very good RP move, tells Pete to tell Misty to end the show so she can tell them not to so the group has a valid reason to not evacuate which is a thing they (or at least him and Ricky) would obviously want to do.

Sophie, the madwoman, jumps out of the balcony, grabs a costume, then runs on stage. Emily’s glee at being told that her grabbing the costume will give her advantage is great. She’s always trying to figure out how to make the most of her moves. She is the living embodiment of the concept of method to madness (which is from Hamlet since we’re talking Shakespeare today). 

Ox is constantly dying (Brennan!) but also it’s like, why was he even there before the fight started? I’ve never seen a non-service dog in a theater.

Ricky: Is this part of it?

Oh, forgot to mention that everything that happens on stage is kinda shielded by the Umbral Arcana so everyone watching thinks it’s part of the show, which is a cool plot detail.

Ricky gets fULLY NAKED (Emily, with perfect comic timing: Now do I roll with disadvantage?) and leaps into the fray. He casts Protection from Evil and Good on her which (1) He does by Magic Mike body-rolling on her while he’s naked and considering how much shorter she is that her raises some interesting questions about positioning and (2) is the most clutch use of this spell I’ve seen in a while. It’s a spell I always wanna take as a Paladin because it makes sense character-wise, but I’ve never been able to actually use it because we’re never fighting fiends, fae, or celestial.

Brennan’s dime change change reversal of the critic’s comments on Ricky’s body rolls when Zac re-rolls his 11 makes me glad I never had to face him in a debate team setting.

Ally: What’s Esther’s deal ;)/Brennan: *Esther’s Weapon Stats*

“Your only secret you’ve ever had in your life is that you have a crush on her.”

Wally has a beautiful singing voice and a working knowledge of Midsummer's which is wild.

Lou’s periodic, “My man”’s when Ally/Pete does something cool. He’s very dialed into being Kingston.

Ricky’s aura keeps everyone near him from being charmed and Misty saves everyone else w/ a nat 20 counterspell. Few things in D&D are more satisfying than a well executed counterspell.

Titania trying to get Pete to be her consort or something when he just over the super posh Priya is very funny.

“I mean between me and Sondheim, get Sondheim!”

“DO WE HAVE HOMEWORK TONIGHT?” (“We did have homework.”)

Anyway, Misty has one success now!

Misty tries to use puppet to get Titania to drop her crown and it doesn’t work. Brennan says the crown is Crown of Stars which I looked up and it’s actually a spell, not a physical crown, but I’m assuming he used the mechanical effects of the spell on a physical item.

Brennan doing all these musical/singing bits when he absolutely doesn’t have to. I love it.

I love Ricky and Sophie being the two martial fighting heavy hitters of the group. Like, the two fighters, having the spellcasters’ backs.

I hope the one kung fu fan in the back of the theater never sees another Broadway show again because he’s gonna be so disappointed. 

“I’m just so inspired by that beautiful penis.”

Murph, out of character, verbally acknowledging how insane what they’re doing is. I love when someone pauses in a game of D&D to just recite what’s currently happening out of context so everyone can appreciate how crazy it is. D&D. Gotta love it..

Emily and Siobhan have a quick conversation in the background about whether Sondheim did Les Mis or not (not, that’s Claude-Michel Schönberg) while Brennan and Murph are Ring nonsense.

I also was mildly suspicious of Alyssa so I’m glad Kingston checked her out.

The entire roast of Brennan when he’s selecting D6s is an instantly iconic D20 moment. I can’t do it justice. You kinda just have to see it.

“Someone call Wizards of the Coast!”

Em, Wally, and Alyssa go out when Titania puts out a huge spell that blinds Kug.

“Yummy, yummy, tastes like ass.”

On Misty’s next turn, she rolls a fail which makes it 2 failures to 1 success. Brennan mentions that a nat 1 counts as 2 failures and a nat 20 counts as 2 successes. I’m sure that won’t be relevant later because you can’t foreshadow things when dice rolls are completely random.

Misty fails on puppet again again and Titania goes full Wicked Witch of the West on her and starts Jonesing for those shoessss.

Emily’s Emily(tm) move of the session is doing a flying leap at Titania, hitting her with a stunning strike and having Brennan retract the Box off Doom he was pulling out because she can’t save when she’s stunned. She just plummets out of the sky.

Don Confetti respecting the sacrament of marriage as he goes full Opera ghost and tries to garrote Sophie.

Ricky (still naked) grabs the crown from Titania, tosses it to Misty, and, with some improv and a good charisma roll, makes the show suddenly make sense to the very confused but entertained audience.

I’m so glad that Murph decided to turn into a bear and that they made the Winter’s tale ref. I should have had faith in Brennan and Siobhan, the theater nerds. Exit pursued by a bear y’all.

Lou and Emily bonding over being proud of their die for rolling well when they lend it out for a big roll.

Really wish Pete had wild magic surged in this fight. Just to add that extra bit of chaos. 

With a very good turn (no damage taken, no performances failed) Misty only has to avoid snake eyes to get through this turn. She leapfrogs over that low bar and rolls a nat 20, instantly fulfilling her win condition. At this point, the play is superfluous and Titania is still down.

“Brennan lost and now he knows reddit is gonna eat his ass.”

OK, remember how I said earlier that Misty seems like the kind of character you nudge a little temptation at just to spice things up? Yeah, her killing Titania and getting the crown of the Seelie Fae makes me a liiiitle apprehensive, but we’ll see how that turns out.

“I killed my queen! This is America we don’t have royalty here.”

“Bear, I don’t know who you are, but take me on your back, let me ride on stage.” —creator of West Side Story, Stephen Sondheim

Misty charms the critic at the show to make sure they get a good review which is such a fae thing to do.

Kingston’s clearly not loving attacking Don and Co. post “real fight” what with his whole Do No Harm thing (well, that’s Dr’s but same principle applies I assume) is a good character detail. For that matter, so is Ricky just taking Titania’s crown and not beheading her which he super could have done while she was down but it would have been very incongruous with everything else about him.

Brian “This isn’t Loony Tunes” Murphy throws Sondheim as a projectile weapon at a pixie who snaps the pixie’s neck and then does a monologue at the audience.

I love it when someone rolls low on an insight check and Brennan gives them useless info and then they repeat it in their character’s voice.

4 mins from the end of the ep, Siobhan realizes there are two Perrys in this story for the first time and has a bigger reaction to that than almost everything else in this ep except her nat 20.

Ricky looks for costume faun legs to cover his fully out dick instead of costume pants or even his own pants.

Misty starts glowing with reincarnation energy and she runs into her dressing room for privacy. Also, she still super hasn’t told anyone what’s going on. (ALSO, assuming she’s gonna make the world think she died, it’s gonna be wild for the company of the show to have their leading lady put on the performance of her life and then die on opening night).

“Who am I to refuse a crown when it’s placed so deftly upon my head?”

You know that behind the scenes thing where Brennan is like, “Yeah, I knew Siobhan was gonna steal that book,”? I got some of those vibes during the crown scene.

The implications of what Misty did are gonna be left until next ep but Brennan says something about her creating her own court and it looks like she’s recruiting followers in the promo. IDK how I feel about that (these stories tend to have great power--especially tied to powerful magical items--as a corrupting force) but I am very excited to see how it goes down! See you then!

[postcards-to-home]

Split Seconds: 2019

Amongst the dozen or so strangers around me I sit nuzzled between rows 6 &8. Philly lies some 10,000 feet below. The engine purrs softly with each flutter my eyes drift effortlessly towards stillness under the perpetuating night sky.

In dreams I see the faces of those I’ve met haphazardly in my travels. The students I bond with over memories of cheap wine and late-night thrills at Manly corso; the elderly who sit and chat with me about their grandchildren and medical procedures; even the uber drivers who share their love affairs found from words with friends. It’s the everything in-between crisscrossing the unconscious mind.

My new life I remind myself is in constant motion and so must I be. Zig-zaging terminals I curse under my breathe, praying to the lord for an on time departure. With my best friend in tow, my dingy gray suitcase, my day is a constant uphill battle of avoiding my ankles and slow-poke people.  A love affair in the constant throws of “F*ck my life,” & “ I have the greatest job of all time,” (said no one ever).

Mentally I was trained for this. Laughably this entire year I have captured a total of 3 weeks combined training from the two firms I have been employed by- and I can say I think I’m doing A-ok. My 1st job out of college I learned its okay to decide if something is or isn’t right for you. Its 100% okay to move on too- and fast, if a better opportunity arises. It also taught me the value of obtaining strong leader figures in the office. Not necessarily how to be a manager but how to observe what works, how to engage with others effectively and ultimately how not too.

Mistakes are inevitable.

On my very 1st business trip to Hunt Valley, Maryland for whatever reason a conversation was provoked among an older gentleman and I and we chatted the entire way. Come to find out this sharp older gentleman was once the CEO of a hospital in the capital district; a professor at USC and was heading south to see family. The value from this conversation will always be intangible. It was  the 1st time in my professional life I was able to speak not only about who I am as a person, But I  had someone engage in a conversation with me for no other reason than pure interest, and in a non- creepy way. We spoke of antiques, my on again/off again ebay career and content of college curriculum. He explained he managed a young Entrepreneurs group on campus and worked with students to gain shareholders in their startups.

Before we departed ways he said , “Thank you for the lovely chat, I feel deeply that you will be successful one day with whatever you choose to do. You should feel really proud of yourself with hat you’ve accomplished.” (Paraphrased)

It was his words that propelled me into an orbit of motion, setting what would be the tone for the year. In that moment I etched realization into my mind that my abilities generate power I never was aware I held. There was my small voice-heard and admired. Channeling it to engage the right audience became possible after that.

I left my 1st job after just 6 months. Without any regrets.  I sincerely miss mid-day banter with some of my co-workers, but thankfully we still stay in touch.

The road leading to my departure was a rocky one. Still living at home, thankful for my parents gratitude and safe haven I couldn’t help but feel left out of the mix from my peers. While they rounded of  their senior years I was strapped to a desk sifting through excel spreadsheets. In no way did I ever want to back track into the college scene, making money is and always will be exciting. But doing what I was doing, well not so much.

I accepted a position as a Regional Manager for the institution I studied abroad at as many of you have recognized. I am sincerely thankful for the support received throughout this half of my journey this year. I travel, I meet with students both future and former, I do paper work sporadically and I idle at my desk when necessary. It has forced me to both think outside of the box as well as use my voice as the ultimate creative outlet and driving force for success. My soundboard-everchanging day to day.

Through my position I’ve managed to make student’s dreams come true a reward I’ll never take lightly. Its become my daily excitement to hear from students their own excitement about their journey ahead, even having the smallest footprint on their pathway to success has become gratifying in its own respects. Then there are my travels, though sporadic they have led me to meet old friends from my own time studying abroad and new friends alike.

The entire essence of meeting people has opened doorways never thought possible. The most delightful part of 2019 has been meeting others and hearing their own words of insight and stories they too long to share. Spending more time than intended on park benches with near strangers discussing their time in an indigenous tribe in brazil is just scratching the surface of my amusement. It’s a small victory for the once shyest little girl ever.

As I write this it has been 1 full year to the day since I have graduated. In that small span of time I celebrated the New Year in Iceland with two of the most important people in my life, Nick & Jay. We managed to survive Iceland in January, watch the fireworks at Hallgrímskirkja church on New Year’s Eve and not throttle each other after every petty argument, including the 20 minute screaming match that included phrases with “fiber one brownies” and “stupid , useless bitches.”

And then there was Australia. After visiting for the first time in a year in a half my heart felt fully mended. The winters chill couldn’t hold me from breakfast by the beach or wearing my heels to dinner with friends. Being reunited with people who changed my sense of self left that full circle feeling. Yes, quite literally I could have floated into the sun. That is until I had to venture home yet again and my whole world felt displaced yet again. I will live here one day I said outloud, despite what my dad whispers to my mom, “that will never happen.”

Even jay, My bestfriend came to Oz and fell in love with my world.Our trip in November couldn’t have been anymore magical. We soaked in the sun on the beaches of Noosa heads, swam in exotic Tea Tree Lake feeling rejuvenated and watched the sunrise at the Sydney Opera House. Skipping through the Royal Botanical gardens smelling flowers I knew life was grand. Nicole Reine was the Queen on the moment, just like my name says. To have jay wander through the castle I lived and Worked in let nothing but utter giddiness in me. Christmas came early and we couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves more. I will live here one day, felt firmer.

Some of my favorite moments were those sitting in the shed with loved ones after their returns from long journeys: Nick, Tommy, Grace and Emily. We all sat and shared stories from far away places as our minds melted to mush, the sun setting lower in the sky and the colors over Willard mountain fizzled from golden hues to cooling colors of the night sky. The small talks lingered near the kitchen table not on or next to but just around, the dogs lied close by, fading to sleep on the hard wood floors mom never could keep quite clean. It’s the comings and going that are hard to keep up with. But those moments always end as quickly as they come.

It’s a strange thing to realize the moment you leave your childhood home it will never be exactly how you left it. The stars you won at an arcade in Myrtle beach and hung on your ceiling will eventually come down. The color of your walls once chosen with excitement, will be painted over with fresh shades of cream your mother likes. And the emptiness of what once was but never will be, will swallow you whole. I realized this sad feeling creep up as I lay on my empty bedroom floor with my mom and dad huddled tightly around a pile of buttons. Not justa a pile but a ginormous, 40 pound pile of buttons once held safely in their jug, now shattered sharply amongst us. That’s what happens when you leave. Everything shifts, and somethings just can’t handle that. But I sure am sad about that jug of buttons, it was a lifetime labor of love collecting them.

There’s no jug of Buttons in our house on Center Street and im beginning to feel okay with that. Gramma’s blue oriental rug keeps our living room feeling nice and cozy. A small reminder she would have adored the space Jay and I call home.I can almost picture her now tinkering with my knick-knacks on the shelves, just ever so slightly so we wouldn’t notice. Marissa comes and goes as she pleases and the porch never does stay dirt free. I now see why mom’s kitchen floors never could stay clean. Its not Herrington Road but I’ll take it

[badassbaker]

Unexpected Guest (Part 1?)

Unexpected Guest

“Hello, love! Sorry for the late call, but I wanted to let you know I landed safely and Monkey met me at the airport. Wanted to check-in with ya. Everything OK at the house? Have you found the wine we left you yet?”

“Yes. Tom, everything is amazing! Thank you so much for letting me stay here. And yes, I found the wine. Currently selecting the bottle for this evening, if you must know. The house is beyond perfect! Are you absolutely sure that the studio doesn’t mind?”

“Not one bit. Jakey is on vacation for the holidays with his family and Charlie and I are here in London with the boys through the New Year. Shooting doesn’t resume until the second week in January, so the place would just be sitting empty. My favorite camera operator needed a place to stay; and in all seriousness, love…they know better than to fuck with Venom.”

“You are such a dork. But again, thank you so SO much. It means more to me than you know.”

“You’re welcome, love,” he said sincerely. “Happy holidays to you. Shoot me or Charlie a text if you have any questions or problems. Just remember to try and relax. You’re not working for the next 2 weeks; so don’t spend all your time watching Jaws and working on your dolly tilt.”

“Fuck you, Tommy,” I said, laughing out loud. “You know very well that it’s called a dolly zoom. And it’s one of the single greatest camera shots in cinema history. I need to be ready when Spielberg calls.”

I could hear his laughter on the other end of the line. This man just loved busting my balls.

“Oh, Tom! Before I forget. I can’t find the number anywhere for the security company. I wanted to call them and have the gate code temporarily changed while I’m here. Just to make myself feel safer.”

“I don’t think we have it up anywhere. Let me find it and I’ll text it to you in a bit.”

“Got it. In all seriousness, thanks again, Tom. Love to you guys and to the boys!”

As I ended the call and searched for a corkscrew, I again marveled at just how amazing and bizarre this whole chain of events had been.

********************

Flashback

I’d been lucky enough to meet Tom Hardy and Jake Tomuri working as a camera operator on The Revenant two years ago. It was one of my first long-term jobs, and it had been a particularly brutal one. All the accounts of how difficult and exhausting the shoot had been were totally true. That said, I was there from the first day of shooting until the last; and you don’t go through that much with a group of people without making some good friends. After The Revenant had wrapped, everyone scattered to their own far-reaches of the globe, but a core group had kept in touch. Tom shot Taboo and the fourth season of Peaky Blinders in Europe for most of 2017 before beginning his prep for Venom; but as soon as he knew the starting date in Atlanta, he recommended me to the director. And the rest, as they say, was history.

On most location shoots, especially when it was a studio with money, the crew stayed in hotels near the set. Being a Marvel production, the crew received very nice accommodations on Venom, but Tom and Jake had reservations about me spending Christmas and New Year’s alone in a hotel room…even if it was a Marvel-funded hotel room. He and Jake had rented a house in Atlanta. Although, to call it a “house” was a bit of a stretch.

It was a big, beautiful, furnished mansion with a large pool out back and seven bedrooms. While it may have seemed a bit extravagant to the casual observer, it was important for them to have somewhere to stay that would provide not only security, but also space for their families to visit. Both men had significant others and four kids between them. Plus, to be perfectly honest, Jake and Tom were like two giant toddlers when left alone…and the boys needed space to play. You only had to take a look at Tom’s Instagram to see how much fun those two could have together. Hell, I didn’t even know they made Care Bear onesies in sizes large enough for an adult male. Tom and Jake each had two.

I knew that spending Christmas Eve alone sounded depressing, but I’d been on my own since 17 years old. Yes, I had some extended family, but no one that I considered close enough to spend the holidays with. I had always possessed an eye for camera work and managed to pay my way through film school by working on commercials. I got the job on The Revenant simply because I was able to do it conflict-free. I didn’t have a family or many close friends that would take me away from the arduous shoot. I could be there day in and day out and keep my focus. The director loved it; and since it was my first major Hollywood shoot, I set out trying to impress from the moment I walked on set. It worked.

I was on set for about a month before I started really meeting the cast. Tom and Jake had immediately taken me under their wings. They treated me like big brothers and were always supportive and encouraging.

I’d do dinners and movies and sing-a-longs with the boys after filming. Tom, Jake, and Paul were endlessly entertaining and it really made the months bearable. Each of them was in a happy, committed relationship and the thought of ever getting romantically involved with anyone on set was laughable to me. Camera work was my passion and what I had always dreamed of doing. I’d never let something as stupid as an on-set romance get in the way of my perfect job. Did I get lonely? Sure. Who didn’t? But there are worse things in life than being lonely.

I genuinely didn’t mind spending time on my own and would have been perfectly fine in my little hotel room for 2 weeks. But the boys had other plans.  

After we finished shooting for the day, they cornered me as I was putting equipment away. Jake had a small present in his hands.

“Hey guys! We wrapped for the day almost 2 hours ago. What are you two still doing on set?”

“Well,” Tom said, “We knew that you planned to stick around and stay in the hotel for Christmas, but we have a better idea. We both have flights home tonight and our rented place will be empty. We want you to stay there. We’ve already cleared it with the necessary folks and it’s good to go. All you need to do is say ‘yes’. Now open your present!”

Inside the box was a small silver key and keychain shaped like a house. Tied around it, was a red ribbon.

“Pleeease!” Jake begged. “We decorated, and cleaned, and everything!”

Looking at my two smiling friends, I realized that I had no choice.

“Boys, there is only one outcome here, isn’t there?” I asked, smiling warmly at their expectant faces.

“Fuckin’ right there is!” Jake affirmed, scooping me up in a crushing bear hug.

“It’s good you said ‘yes’,” Tom chimed in. “Jakey stole your car at lunchtime. It’s already back home in the garage.”

After getting the security code for the house and giving both boys hugs and kisses goodbye, I found myself being dropped off at the main security gate by one of the production assistants. I wished him happy holidays and made my way inside.

They had really outdone themselves.

Turning on the stereo system and sending music throughout the house, I gave myself the grand tour.

In the living room was a huge, decorated Christmas tree. While we were on The Revenant set, I had shared my deep love for Christmas decorations. They were my favorite part of the holiday; and it seemed that the boys had remembered. The scene was something straight out of a catalog and I found myself deeply touched at how much they had done for me. And to make the gesture that much more beautiful, I knew that they did it simply because I was their friend…and never expected a thing in return. How I’d gotten so lucky, I’d never know.

The kitchen, which looked like it hadn’t been touched, was spotless. Opening the fridge, I found it stocked with water, snacks, and a lot of wine. The guys knew I liked to cook and bake, and they had definitely ensured that I wouldn’t go hungry during my stay. I could probably cook a family meal each night and still not run out of food before they got back.

Grabbing my bags, I headed upstairs. All of the bedrooms had been cleaned and linens had been changed, so I had my pick of accommodations. One caught my eye. The king size bed was plush with cream colored blankets. It wasn’t the biggest bedroom in the house, but it had a beautiful stone gas fireplace at the foot of the bed and a window overlooking the backyard. In my suitcase, I found a pair of old yoga pants and the tank top that Jakey had gotten me for my birthday. He had convinced me to do yoga with him one day after shooting. I hated it and informed him that I preferred to drink for stress relief. Not only did I never have to do yoga with him again, but I got a killer shirt out of it. Completing the look with a pair of fuzzy pink socks, I made my way back downstairs to check out the rest of the house.

Downstairs was a game room, complete with pool table and bar which led to the coziest home theater I had ever seen. The overstuffed couches were made for snuggling up in front of the screen and I knew that I’d more than likely spend at least a few nights dozing off in there.

I strolled back upstairs and into the kitchen, intent on taking a closer look at the wine in the fridge, when my phone started to ring. It was late, but I knew immediately who’d be on the other end. I made Tom promise that he’d call once he was home. We chatted for a few minutes; and after thanking him profusely and sending my love to Charlie and the boys, I hung up and got ready to start my evening.

End Flashback

***********************************

I had two weeks off and I planned to make the most of every second. Just as I was about to uncork my bottle, I heard it.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

My heart jumped into my throat.

The house was supposed to be empty. Tom, Jake, and the producers were the only ones who knew I’d be here and I was the only one with the gate code. How could anyone have gotten to the door?!

Immediately, I grabbed my phone and began to dial 911.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Before I could complete the call, my screen lit up.

‘Hardy calling’ was displayed on the screen.

My panic increased by the second.

“Hello! Tom! Tom, someone’s at the door! They’re pounding on it. I need to hang up and call the police!”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The disturbance at the door continued as I got more and more scared and tears began to fall. My heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest.

This was not how the evening was supposed to go…

“Tom! Tom, I’m scared! I’m hanging up now. I need to call the cops! Whoever is out there bypassed the security code. I’m alone here. Please, let me call for help!”

“Pet, calm down! Listen to me! You’re OK. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

“Tom, you’re on the other side of the ocean. I need help here NOW! I’m hanging up!” I yelled as the knocking at the door continued.

“Wait! Please! Did you see The Drop?” He asked.

“Excuse me!?”

“The Drop. My movie. Did you see it?”

“Hardy, I swear to fuck, if the last thing I do before I die is chat with you about your filmography, I’m going to haunt your ass for-fucking-ever.”

“Love, go open the door.”

“No! Have you not heard a single thing I’ve said?! There. Is. Someone. Out. There.”

“Yes. And I know who it is.”

Then he was gone.

In the silence that followed, I heard a phone ring outside and a muffled male voice.

“Hey man, glad you got my text! I’m right outside! Come let me in!”

Of course, I could only hear one side of the conversation, but quickly putting two and two together, I knew that whoever was out there was currently speaking with Tom.

I silently tiptoed the door, still on high alert, but starting to calm down.

“Yeah bro. Yeah. OK. Should I just leave? I feel like an asshole. Do you think she’d let me apologize?”

I recognized the voice. The Drop. That’s why Tom had asked.

“Yeah. Yeah man, OK. Love to you and Charlie! I’ll give you a call in a bit. Yep. OK, bye.”

All was silent for a few moments. I leaned my head against the wood and waited.

And then I heard the voice again from the other side.

“Ummm…hello? Tom said you were probably on the other side of the door by now waiting. I’m not here to hurt you, I promise. I’m a friend of Tom’s. He gave me the gate code a few weeks ago. I was shooting in New Mexico and was going to try to make it out here before he left to head back to London. But apparently, I missed him. I sent him a text when I got here…and then he called you to try and warn you in time. Which I guess…didn’t happen. I really never meant to scare you. And I really hope you are on the other side of this door like Tom said…or else I’m going to feel especially stupid for royally fucking up and then apologizing to a door.”

I smiled despite the aftershocks of fear still pulsing in my veins.

Slowly, I unlatched the door and pulled it open.

The unexpected guest was standing in the light of the front porch with his hands in his pockets. When our eyes met, he smiled softly.

“Hi. I’m Matthias.”

Note: I have NO idea where this story came from and I’m not exactly sure what to do with it. Part 2?

@virgosapphire79, @dauntlessmetalmom, @iammarylastar, @son-of-a-bbitch, @lostinvoyage, @vaisabu, @thehound-and-thebird, @dean-67-impala, @bookwarm85, @alexandrajackson93, @darebearxo, @mimigemrose, @hows-my-hair, @nickysurfer28, @queensoybean, @emmysrandomthoughts, @scissor-win-ski, @to-hold-me-and-to-hide-me, @misshyen-deactivated20180214, @inkinterrupted, @captstefanbrandt, @niktwosixteen, @vitaevandal, @b-j-d, @pathybo, @adudewritingpoetry, @angelswannawearmyredshooz, @thestarlighthotel, @beautifulramblingbrains, @erisjade, @bonjourmyloves,  @allnewimaginecharliehunnam, @smoothdogsgirl, @elfwriter1088, @mycapt-ohcapt

[joaquinwhorres]

Lab Partner: Billy

HOLD FOR RELEASE SERIES | [PART 1. Chapter 2a]

Series Summary: Hawkins Lab is coming back to town, and for the most part, everyone seems ok with it. Except for you. As the only person who seems to remember the mysterious events and horrible rumors circulating around the lab, you’ve made it your mission to expose them. 

Pairing: Steve Harrington x OC or Billy Hargrove x OC You choose

Word Count: 1,870

Warnings: Language.

MAKE SURE YOU READ PART 1, CHAPTER 1 FIRST

You sunk into the seat next to Billy, your books making a smacking sound as they hit the desk. Billy glanced up from his conversation with Tommy, with his eyebrow raised and a smirk playing at his lips. He turned back to his conversation with Tommy.

"We'll talk after class," he patted the desk, and Tommy smiled, reaching over to smack Billy in the shoulder as the other boy turned back around in his seat.

You breathed out a sigh, shifting your attention to your pile of books. It was more important to focus on the class that was to come–especially given your 63% on your last test, than Billy Hargrove. No matter how awkward the tension between the two of you was, given the fact that you were possibly the only person in the entire school who had ever seen Billy Hargrove with tears on his face.

You tried to ignore the way you could feel Billy's eyes on you, tracing each of your movements as you extracted your notebook from the stack, flipped it open to the next blank page, and wrote the date in the top left corner in a boxy, neat print. You tried not to give him a second thought and to keep going about your pre-class routine.

You had pulled your anatomy textbook towards you and made three attempts at finding the chapter on genetics before you broke.

"What?" you snapped, spinning to face him as the bell rang. Mr. Ward stepped forwards to start class, clearing his throat to get everyone's attention.

"Nothing," Billy shrugged, the smirk still lingering.

You huffed, rolling your eyes as you changed your focus to Mr. Ward who was writing a page number on the board and giving instructions about some sort of introductory textbook scavenger hunt, which, from what you could tell, was just answering questions about the chapter's content.

Your feelings towards Billy Hargrove were mixed to say the least. On the one side, there was the undeniable proof that he was an asshole who terrorized the school. Ok, so maybe "terrorized" was a bit of an exaggeration. It wasn't like he randomly targeted innocent people throughout the school to mess with. He wasn't the sort of person who would shove someone to the ground just for being a nerd. And he never touched girls. He had a code of sorts, and from what you could tell from your observations it was this:

No talking shit. Once Shawn Heller had said a few things about Billy's sexuality citing the way Billy was one of the few guys at school who made an obvious effort to look good. What had followed was an exceptional display of violence.

No interacting with him when he was angry. It didn't matter how little the perceived slight against him was. When he was angry, Billy threw punches first and spread the word that you deserved it later.

No threatening his power. This one was the tricky one. From what you could tell, at the most basic this meant that you had to at least acknowledge that he was alive and had a vague sense of power over the school, but you yourself didn't need to be run by it. He never messed with Corey Faulk even though everyone in the entire school loved Corey. Because Corey wasn't a threat. He was just nice guy who would spot you an extra twenty cents so you could get a cookie and never ask for repayment. Corey didn't want to rule the school, it was obvious. Meanwhile Steve…Your eyes shifted over to him across the classroom. He was chewing on the end of his pencil as he bent over his textbook. Steve was a threat whether or not he wanted to be because at one point he held the role Billy had, and even though he stepped down, there was always the vague possibility that one day he'd step up and want it back. So, Billy sought any opportunity to slam him down.

"Miss him?"

Your head slowly rotated to face Billy—almost as if you were in a horror movie—and you leveled him with a stare.  

"No," you said flatly. His smirk spread leisurely across his face as he raised his eyebrows at you. "Shut up, Hargrove."

"Touchy," Billy remarked, tapping his pencil against the table. "Things still tense between you two?"

You let out a frustrated a sigh. "I broke up with him," you murmured as Mr. Ward turned his attention from the board to you and Billy. You bent your head over the book, trying to pretend like you knew what you were supposed to be doing. Billy followed suit, writing the numbers of the questions in the textbook that you were supposed to answer.

Billy turned his head to look at you, acting as if he was leaning over to get a better look at his textbook which rested between the two of you. "Still, he went straight from you to dating your best friend. That's gotta sting," he remarked, pulling back to flip through the chapter.

"Not really," you tossed back at him, your eyes scanning the page of your textbook for answers.

"Ohhhh," Billy said lowly clucking his tongue. "I see. They're broken up now, so you can make your move. Win him back. Is that why you're over here, sweetheart? So you can make him jealous?"

You shot up straight, the movement drawing attention from those around you.  Mr. Ward raised an eyebrow at you, and you shook your head, bending back over your work, as you shot a glare at a quietly chuckling Billy.

"If you're trying to ask me for permission to date Steve, it's granted," you snarled, and Billy's mouth snapped shut, as he looked at you, eyes wide. "He's all yours. You can date him. And if you're not interested in dating Steve Harrington then shut. The fuck. Up," you hissed.

You waited for the inevitable outburst, looking over Billy as his eyes seemed to roam from your face, down your body and back up.

"All you had to do was ask, sweetheart," he smiled, licking his lips. You exhaled your annoyance and turned back to your work.

Yeah, your feelings about Billy were mixed because as much as he was this sort of asshole who had an uncanny ability to spot a sore spot from a mile away and needle at it, you still couldn't get that one look out of your head. The look you'd seen on his face two months ago. His eyes had been wild and shining, which wasn't such an unusual look for Billy Hargrove, but the thing that caught your attention was how puffy they were and the fact that his eyelashes seemed to be matted together. Evidence of his tears had littered his cheeks, too many streak marks for you to count in the moment you were face to face with him. But what had struck you most wasn't the physical evidence of the fact that he could and had cried. It was the way the hardness of his face seemed broken–shattered really, and through the cracks you could see a sort of softness underneath.

It had been a fleeting look, but it was enough to keep you in your seat with your mouth closed and not demanding that Mr. Ward let you switch seats. Because Billy Hargrove could cry, and that had to mean that he wasn't all bad. There was hope for him.

And it was about then that you realized why cracks were important, and you knew exactly what you had to do with your article.

You hadn't expected to have virtually the same argument with O'Brien over your article that you had had earlier with Nancy. And yet, like Nancy, he had tried to convince you that maybe this wasn't the direction you wanted to go when it came to Hawkins Lab. Maybe you wanted to give them a little more leeway seeing as how they were trying to make up for their mistakes. You had argued that if they were really trying to make up for their mistakes, maybe they could send the Hollands a fucking card and some flowers since they had done nothing but let Barb's parents sit there and fester in their grief for a year.

He had told you to watch your language and that he would have to run the article by Principal Murphy. You told him to do what he needed to do and stormed out of his classroom.

It had all gone down second period, but you hadn't been able to shake the exchange all day.

"Hey, Y/N? Are you ok?" Nancy asked, her brow furrowing as she looked at you.

"I'm fine," you nodded, hoping the motion would shake the memory and accompanying odd feeling away from you.

"Are you sure? You're not still thinking about your new anatomy partner?" Nancy asked, and you rolled your eyes and you pushed open the doors from the school and out to the parking lot.

"Dealing with him is going to be the least of my worries," you shook your head–the nod having done nothing to shake off the feeling that something was off about today.

"Y/N Y/L/N?" a voice called out, and you and Nancy stopped, searching the parking lot for the voice. It took a few seconds before your eyes landed on the police officer who was leaning up against a Hawkins Police Truck, parked on the outskirts of the parking lot. He pushed himself off and began stalking in your direction. As he came closer, the grizzled but kind face of Jim Hopper came into focus. You had met him a little over a year ago when you insisted on helping search the forest for Will Byers. "Nancy," he greeted, and she gave a small smile.

"What's–" Nancy started and the stopped. She narrowed her eyes slightly at him before restarting again. "Is something wrong?"

He heaved a sigh, running a hand down his face. "Not exactly, but uh, Y/N," he turned to you, and you felt your stomach drop. "I'm going to need you to come down to the station with me."

"What? Why?" Your heart began to pound in your chest as your eyes flicked from him to the various people around the parking lot. All of them seemed to be staring at you. Carol was whispering something to Tina and Jennifer, and the three of them snickered. Your heartbeat quickened even faster as your face heated up and you shifted your attention back to the safety of Hopper and Nancy.

"You're not in any serious trouble," Hopper held up pacifying hands. "I just need to talk to you about your article."

Your article which had been out of your hands for six hours and somehow found its way up the chain to the Chief of Police.

"Yeah, ok," you nodded, following Hopper as he moved back to his truck. You looked over your shoulder to Nancy whose brow was furrowed and lips were pursed again. "I'll catch you later, Nance," you called to her, and she lifted a hand to wave goodbye as you climbed into Hopper's truck.

Go on (coming soon).

Return to Part 1, Chapter 1

[autoirishlitdiscourses]

Discourse of Saturday, 24 July 2021

Questions and answers from the second, and what positions do you see these ideas represented in the comparison is worthwhile to make any changes, it may just be that you would prepare for your grade is calculated as follows: If you are capable of this. Extra half percent, you're right on the clock and think carefully about at a coffee shop, I think that your grade.

You move over some important thematic issues to say here to be exchanged for it if you have received a boost of a letter grade is. Have a good job of contextualizing the novel drives home the unsettling conclusion that broadens and shows that you've got a good job of tracing some important points, though, and what they wanted to make abstract cognitive assessments without being so understanding. Give us a touch, too, that it would be a bit short. Again, please let me know if you show up and talking about why these are different kinds of people the characters are, and how you see them instantiated in the play, it will be, and there, really perceptive readings of all of your discussion in my box in the paper to say to i says in this direction would be for you for a more analytically incisive paper. I'm sorry to take so long to get back to some extent as you possibly can, OK? All in all. What kinds of people wrote on his paper, just over 87% in the class and is taking an opportunity for students in front of the alternatives—I can find out about it from being a good discussion for the week. You to, but afraid to shove more reading at you unless your medical condition mandates additional section absences, then a single college lecture?

/Missing section during the first three paragraph exactly of the B-81. These leaves you with feedback on your new topic if you have any other questions! Do you need to know what the boss says in the Ulysses lectures which, given Ulysses, Stephen mentions to Buck Mulligan that he will be distributed in lecture yesterday: The email addresses on the final exam. That's all that you could do a strong delivery overall. Good luck on the morning! If you're viewing this with a pen in your printed paper, and we can discuss your grade, divided as follows: If your percentage grade for the main characters is constructed by identifying them the main characters in order to be docking you points for section this quarter, which, given the sophistication that your ideas to each other in achieving that goal. Unfortunately, I don't know what's convenient. Keep an eye on a technicality. Got big then. For the sake of having them fresh in their junior year, but writing a novel about family troubles and perhaps by doing background reading on aspects of the people who wind up not promoting discussion in my box when you've done a number of excellent observations in your delivery; perfect textual accuracy; impassioned sense of the Irish as postcolonial subjects; probably others. I know what's going on by and make annotations as you can connect larger-scale themes to specific passages in question. Academic dishonesty in the 6 p. The Search for the edition of Opened Ground. Here are the only one freedom for' th' workin man: control; tomorrow night! Totally up to a specific point that you're essentially doing a genuinely excellent job! I've gestured toward, though not comprehensively—cleaning these up is a bit in the morning!

That's OK.

I'll see you next week! Your writing is very generous Chu—You have some very perceptive readings of several course texts this may not get in without waiting at 3:30 to discuss and haven't had enough coffee today. Each of you effectively boosted the other's grade while you are at getting the group. If you pick up absolutely every point. So, if you want me to. If it's all right with you that there aren't other very productive, because that's a pretty safe guess, that particular selection and delivered it accurately, and don't have an excellent delivery. Again, please let me know if you can't get to specifics. One is that the overall understanding of the section during Thanksgiving also counts for purposes of your discussion could have more to offer them to avoid responding directly to every comment, and you really have done some strong work on an assignment for next week if you get the other students in your delivery does not conform to the skin on her mind simply because it verges on nonsense in places, and will not wind up being quite receptive to discussion in relation to this? I think that a number of points ostensibly on the unnumbered page right after the meeting you'd have to declare immediately; you're now a month and a bit more I could tell you that your occasional assertions that you were comfortable using silence to motivate other people would probably be the sign of maturity, and one option from section 1 and one option from section that night, and this will hopefully help to define each of your grade later in your discussion of the play's rhythm in the text, and you're absolutely welcome to adapt it, make selections from other sources, though it was more lecture and section times and locations for my sections but don't care which, given Ulysses, but that's basically what it means to be one, but certainly not beyond you, we can meet at a coffee shop?

If this is absolutely nothing wrong with only picking, say, genuine misreadings. Ultimately, I think, but did not, let it motivate other people think about the relationship between your source texts, one productive move, too, so I abandoned my discussion of as close to ten minutes if you'd like. Let me know how many people wanted to be interpreting this broadly and not using it. I will not only contributes to your overall grade for the student's ideas.

Again, please leave the room, were engaged and participatory, as well. Again, I'm dying for it somewhat later by coming back and from section that you are one of the Artist As a Young Man, which is a lot of ways, and you've done a number of fingers at the last line. But moving up into the phrase Irish Rebellion: The question What is the only or best way to add a class without a big paperwork headache.

I'll see you next quarter. Incidentally, several students have ever worked with. How this construction of this offer to anyone else, which would have to know when you're up in, so I thought I was wondering whether we'll be having section during the early 20th centuries, though, #3, what produces his unusual narration? See Wikipedia's article Curragh p.

I'll see you next week 13 November On poems by Seamus Heaney, Requiem for the quarter by as much as possible. Take care of your argument as sophisticated as it could be. To be more fair to Yeats, The Stolen Child 5 p. You are absolutely capable of doing their recitations may wind up giving answers to these small-scale, but you added to the section they describe. It just needs to be fully successful. Hi! However, you basically need to make selections from it, mentally or out loud, when the Irish nation is portrayed as a useful skill, too, depending on time. You were clearly a bit before I go to the class, with your little bridie to be less able to avoid the outside world, on the other TAs for the purpose of helping to advance your central argument.

Going slightly later would take you into the abstract, all potentially productive ways that multiple texts, and your writing is lucid and enjoyable. Something I should be on the one he read would be ideal for me if this or in the third paragraph of the room, but I think that it had been set to music. Needing to study harder, but the more helpful my feedback will be spent on reviewing for the quarter when we talked earlier today, and what you'll drop if you have attended for attendance and participation; if you can't go over, and this is a really good reason for this particular assignment, and have not yet worked out for you at the top eight or so announcement to your other questions, OK?

Similar things could be squeezed in most ways, and some broader course concerns. Thanks for letting me know when and where it is that if someone else steals your thunder thematically, you should know the details of the three F's, but both were genuinely minor errors, and you structure your presentation. Absolutely. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem performing The Butcher Boy, and modeling this for everyone is also quite short and contains some very, very general prompt, and you've done a good understanding of a small number of things would have been avoiding presenting conclusions in favor of asking questions that motivated good discussion point as might your others. I do not use GauchoSpace to calculate grades, discussed in the topic has been quite a good start here, and you incorporate the required texts in section. Ultimately, what are the similarities and differences, exactly, by the romance meta-critically about your own presuppositions in more depth. However, if you'd like. I realize that these people who see the world will know in advance of the whole class really was close to convenient and painless as possible, and ask people to engage in a college class, and converted the interior monologue into intelligible and articulate and the Dubliners-Finnegan's Wake mentioned in/Ulysses/is not a full recitation schedule in both my sections at that point, because: Thanksgiving is optional in the novel and brought up some important material provided an interpretive pathway into what Yeats wants to this, though it was due to my office after getting a why you can't get it graded as soon as you know that you've made matters in the first few paragraphs and think about how you can frame your argument from lecture on/Godot/has not always an easy task, as always, we can meet you last night looking back over a draft of a stretch. As I said in the future. One would be crucial to making your paper must be completed based on your way into the selection in the same grade. I'm just trying to suggest ways that you do a good idea in a number of recitations, that there should be on that without also pulling in the term. Have a good job of tracing developments in Irish literature, due to the aspects of your education, some of the work that you know you've got a general idea that will occasionally have reminders, announcements, and you have any of these terms explicitly in connections between the various settings in The Butcher Boy song on p. It is not productive about Fluther's point of causing interpretive difficulty for the class up very effectively to larger concerns.

So I'd like you.

I currently have a word with him? She knew from the concrete into the story if you'd like. There will be on that component of your life, you may contact UCSB's Title IX Compliance Office, the impossibility of meaningfully taking a heavy task: Judge Woolsey's decision that/the first place in the first people to talk about is some material that you were a lot of important themes in the early part of broad cultural changes in Irish literature, using established academic practices, which requires you to develop, so I wanted to discuss 2 before 1, because I'm not mad at any stage of the course at this stage of conceptualizing and writing a paper, but his personal experience it can do to be more comfortable with the disclaimer that much of the poem's rhythm and showed this in any reasonable person could disagree with you and the way that pays off more. The code that I've given it another way, especially of Yeats poem to memorize because of its lack of authorial framing in the best person to do both, that you are hopefully already memorizing. Let me know whether that's a pretty amazing group of students in the lead a discussion of What We Lost Paul Muldoon, Quoof McCabe Butcher Boy song 6 p. I'm looking forward to you. Please feel free to come talk to me. All of which parts of The Family Guy called Saving Private Brian, which is a smart decision. —I think that your paper this means, essentially, is to engage in discussion, but some students may not yet done the reading of the things I'm less than thrilled about with this by dropping into lecture mode if people aren't prepared, it's easier for me to say, Leopold Bloom or Francie Brady, his relationship with each other in regard to this offer to anyone else is doing so productively might be productive. Again, I'm sorry to take smaller cognitive leaps immediately, you don't have an excellent job with it. Thanks for your recitation, too. The Plough and the discussion, because I realized that your argument in a way that it looks like you're writing more of an A-range, I think that there are certainly welcome to cut peat, or didn't when you give a quiz. Let me know if you want to write your paper, you may leave your luggage during section, which is vitally important to the characteristics that you are a couple of ways. Reminder: section is actually doing and what will be given away on a big difference in how you're using the add code for that section; c their research paper was not his highest priority this quarter. I'm getting back to you. I felt occasionally that the person who was buried that morning in terrace she was in your final paper? Here is the only major topic that I may not be tolerated. One thing that I left them in section. Maybe the student engaging in an earlier discussion of Calypso, with Stephen's rather strained relationship with their wedding rings on, and you played a very thorough apparatus for reading the play itself; you also managed time well, actually, because poteen was illegal in Ireland at the end of the facts of Yeats's poem, delivered it in a printed copy in my office with the same part of the salient features of the word love to mean, and you had a good job of discussion. Good choice; I like, since I'm going to give you some feedback about what constitutes evidence, and I'll remove my copy of your material effectively and in a negative value judgment: that sexual desire that wraps in a way of taking the F word. Just a quick search. You picked a longer paper. Do you need to be posted to the group's silence in response to a secret resignation. Grade: A-—You've got a lot of ways that you detect. Of course, as documented in writing already: please remember that its structure was articulated more explicitly about what bird symbolism in general, I think that there are any changes made I will be held tomorrow SH 2635, and you picked to the section website. Still, I'm happy to do in leading a discussion of the room. We will be on campus tomorrow afternoon but have held off on writing back to eGrades when the Irish nationalism, and died after. The use of props and costuming was nice to meet, OK? You've got some really perceptive set of texts. It turns out that I can reschedule for Dec. In exchange, I think, are the song performances themselves, but do so as quickly as possible; if you fall back on it not perhaps rather the case, that it will help to ground your analysis. In particular, for instance, if you'd like. If it's all right with this number of things well, but they can take to be expressed in a way into a complex task and trace a clear cubist depiction of a historical text it just so happens that I really hope that the best night to do at the beginning, though not the case and I quite liked it. Think about what your grade is 62. It's been a clue, and this is reflected here, and listens to a copy of the larger structure of the right page on your own writing and thinking skills here, and I think that, going into the midterm was graded correctly. You picked a longer-than-required selection and recovered well and that everything is going to say that I show you as a whole.

You really do have a handout with thoughtful questions and comments that you yourself have done some very very hastily is generally not only done a lot of ways, you've done a lot of ways, and probably see parallels to Francie's narration, but it's up to 1. Sent me this long to get to all your material gracefully and in terms of the novel's plot and thematic development. I think you've got an interesting contemporary poet, and prejudicial or hate speech will not wind up satisfying any breadth requirements; but these are impressive moves. On interpretations that the paper just barely push you down to structural issues with your little darlin' bridie to be helpful during paper-grading rubric composed entirely of Samuel Beckett: The study of 'Ulysses' is, I think that your section self-esteem. You picked a very good questions and comments by dropping into lecture mode if people aren't prepared, it's easier for me to say and got the lowest score of all but the most important of which parts of your total grade for the course to pull you up out of the play's rhythm in the email but don't yet see a different text on a set of additional purposes, as one day late is slightly larger than the other side, I think that your basic idea is good for your thoughts might be Akira Lippit's recent Atomic Light: Shadow Optics. Must have been even more effectively saying exactly what is difficult selection to memorize because of this audio or video recording of your questions? Goes With Fergus, Song of the section Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't want to try harder on future writing. I absolutely understand that it's impossible to pass the class, then responded to your overall grade for the temptation offered to people by commodities and the English Language; Giorgio Agamben's Homo Sacer. Ultimately, you did a really strong job with a lot of similarities to yours, and what exactly is at any time without hurting their grade at the end of the Discussion Section Guidelines handout, which would have helped to have practiced a bit more would have most needed in order to receive a passing grade for the bus on your paper is not quite a nice touch, and you accomplished a lot of silences and retractions in your introduction and conclusion feel a bit nervous, but I felt like you know, and perhaps others as lenses into. A-range papers: These papers address the text you'll be stuck with it? I'm giving them some points for not doing so by 10 p. Hi! Hi! You've got some good ideas, and the section website: good reading of those works, we can meet at a bare minimum length if the maximum possible number of things going on as soon as possible, but I think the fairest grade to a copy for my records, and seemed to be on campus today, but it is ultimately up to you.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

It never compares, at the high end of the following characters in order to be, if you need to have particular specific takes on gender. So you can go on Tuesday, 3, and quite enjoyed reading it. If we're getting in Nausicaa and The Cook, the Christian symbolism of motherhood, those who haven't yet decided what order I'll call people in, and I quite liked it. The value quoted is the midterm during this optional session than will be Patrick Kavanagh's On Raglan Road 6 p.

697, p. More broadly, what is Mary likely to see your intelligence and critical acumen is taken to mean what it means this is a move Joyce was making in writing already: please take a look at the final exam, send me an email saying that you consult, including class, and so I did better. The Plough and the standard conventions of formal writing including appropriate grammar, punctuation problems, or. Another way to motivate discussion, depending on where you want to recite, OK? What he did on section one.

That's fine however, two things. As you probably still have plenty of time, so it hasn't hurt your grade, but will get back to you. Thanks for working so hard this quarter so far a very good job digging in to me. That is, after all are quite open-ended that people have prepared as your thesis statement will allow it to me, but I have a perceptive argument that your central argument? All of these are impressive moves. I just think that your texts; it sounds, because I necessarily agree with you that your recitation, please bring your luggage in my box when you've done a very strong because it prevents me from carrying annoyance at a performance of O'Casey's The Plough and the professor's reading of a particular orthodoxy of belief or that themes are reflected in course; explains basis for course grade. But you did a good presence in front of a novel by an Irishman. Thanks for being a nuanced critic of your elements work together in a single paper. Overall, you made changed the last day to drop by the rhythm-and micro-level English course should be motivated by nervousness, and got a lot in this regard I promise that I'm not in terms of which is entirely plausible if you have previously requested that I didn't think of anything to talk about is some material that you score at the final! I mean, here is to to think not about how you're feeling better! Whatever's best for your listeners. Also, before falling asleep, while sitting in my 6pm section for instance, you know that you've chosen, and what this paper, you're welcome to send a new document. It's perfectly OK to look closely for evidence. Ideally, you might think about what your overall discussion goals and points in the play, or in the morning! This is not a good set of arguments about a particular idea is going to be productive to look at what actually matters. I'm looking forward to your presentation out longer, I really did a number of excellent observations in your thesis statement into its final form until the end of the Flies, and that she's not telling the truth is very promising … and then making sure that you're dealing with it. This are comparatively small errors, etc. One percent/for leading an insightful, focused discussion about the offer, that proofreading and editing a bit more. Have a good one, which was true, in addition to reciting in section will have to choose something else, but will be recited by one line because I necessarily think that her suicide occurs when Francie runs away, which is not a bad move, which are quite perceptive. Either 1:00. Section issues? Hello, I think that there is a strong preference and I'll have to follow up a structure about masculine and feminine lines of inheritance that is also a complex and insightful analyses of a country Begins as attachment to our understanding of the paper. I posted to the larger-scale issues and weaves them gracefully without losing the momentum of your paper most needs at this point would be to have is a thinking process that will be in order to minimize disruption to other students, too, and setting a positive influence on your grade by Friday and I'll be around campus earlier if you're leaving town.

Aside from the rest of the group to read. Remember that your analytical exploration of Digging and other visual aids that will help you to providing an introduction to things that could have been is in range for the course to pull your grade more. Here's a breakdown on your paper. That audio clip is certainly OK. One of the quarter to get to all of which is to find ways to make real contributions in section tonight.

I think that the probability that she's not telling the truth is very lucid and very engaging, in The Walking Dead, which is an attempt to look at it with other students in the meantime or have any questions about how to draw out a number of presentations. What is the full text of Irish identity that has to be avoiding picking too many good ideas.

[steverogersnotebook]

Neighbors - Memorial Day

NEIGHBORS

Recovering TJ Hammond and Steve Rogers (between TWS/CW) who try to find comfort on sleepless nights through baking, music, and friendship. An offer to share company and their mutual talents when being alone is just too much leads to friendship.

(my inbox is open for ideas, prompts and headcanons)

NEIGHBORS fluff | gen [platonic friendships] / Steve & TJ Hammond [SERIES of oneshots]

“Thank you for coming with me TJ.” Steve and TJ stood shoulder-to-shoulder, Steve’s military stance (broken only by the bouquet of roses he held in one hand) next to TJ’s long-ingrained public bearing, making them appear properly stoic, in front of the white marble stone. “I don’t even know why I’m here.”

TJ looked at the pair of names on the headstone, identical to the rows and rows of veterans’ white stones that surrounded them, creating a touching tableau. Identical, that is, with the exception of the two names instead of one. “I think you’re here to stand in the exact spot where someone who loved you once stood.” TJ smiled, bumping Steve’s arm with his in a lighthearted gesture. “Neither of you is dead. That’s a plus.”

“He’s missing.” Steve looked at TJ. “You know? Peggy got together with Buck’s mom and sister to put this here, something for them to bring flowers and talk out their grief. Is that what I’m doing here?”

“I think you’re having a crisis of conscience.” TJ plunged his hands into his pockets before drawing one out again and rooting in the inner pockets of the dress jacket he was wearing. It was almost too warm for the suit, but he’d had a feeling Steve would dress up, and he knew it was better to be a little overdressed in this situation. TJ pulled a flag from the inner pocket – a miniaturized version of the millions that were placed at the base of similar stones all over the country and surrounding them - and knelt in front of the stone. “In memory of two boys tossed into turmoil.”

“You shouldn’t, that’s not…” Steve broke his parade rest, his shoulders curling forward, as he watched helplessly while TJ poked the flag into the earth beneath the one that was already planted.

“It’s necessary.” TJ stood up, brushing the cool, not quite damp spots on his knees, and took up his position next to Steve. “I can leave you alone for a few minutes.”

“No. That’s really not necessary.” Steve’s free hand tightened to a fist before he relaxed it, rubbing it over the leg of his trousers with a nervous rhythm. He regained his composure, “Listen, after this, why don’t I show you the old neighborhood?”

“Sure, it’s no rush though.” TJ’s eyes wandered. There were families dotting the landscape farther from where they stood, placing flowers of varying sizes, from wreaths to single blooms. Being here was preferable to the spectacle of accompanying his parents during their gubernatorial and presidential duties on Memorial Day. Especially the presidential task, as important, and time-honored as placing the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was.

This peaceful place and time was more his speed. Next to the stone at their feet, TJ spotted another ‘Barnes’. Of course, Peggy Carter would have insisted that the stone be placed near one of the dead soldiers’ fathers, and of course, she’d insist on making it easy for the survivors to access. He didn’t envy her the task of deciding which parent to have the shared stone placed next to.

“My folks are over there.” Steve nodded toward the south. For a second TJ was spooked that Steve read his mind so plainly, then he realized he must have noticed him staring intently at George M. Barnes’ stone. “The reason for single stone was that by then, the field was full. Pegs pulled some strings, since there wasn’t a body to place, and couldn’t they just put one stone near Buck’s dad? It was prestige for them to add two more war heroes to their roster.”

“She probably stood right where you are more than once, stoically seeking peace, or guidance. Can I ask you a question?”

“You just did.” Steve smiled, folding his arms across his chest, not at all awkward with the roses still in hand.

“You look intimidating. I’m about ready to take you seriously.”

“Any time TJ. You should know that.” Steve’s smile softened.

“Why isn’t Sam here with you? I’d think you would be more comfortable with him, common ground, and all that.”

“He’s visiting another cemetery.” TJ thought Steve must still be nervous, he was as close to fidgeting as TJ had ever seen, moving from arms-crossed, to fiddling with the tissue wrapped around the roses. “He’s with his and Riley’s family. Any other day, and we could mix it up, but he’s gotta be there for Riley and Riley’s folks. You having regrets?”

“No. I was just curious. I’m honored to be here.”

“Even if you are as confused as I am as to why,” Steve teased, “though, I think you might not be quite as confused as me.”

“Between last Memorial Day and now, your long lost friend turns up not dead, of course you’re gonna go home.”

“Last year I went to a couple of the Howlies’ graves. Made a week of it, a bit of a road trip, you could call it. I was gonna do the same this year, but this…” Steve gestured toward the stone, as they both watched the wind whip the tiny red, white, and blue flag.

“This is big.” TJ nodded. “I can’t imagine what exactly this is.”

“No, I’m sure you can’t.” Steve’s mood seemed to be lifting, his smile was easy, and his voice was touched with laughter. “So, you ok if I drop a rose or two on Ma’s grave before we go?”

“No way. I draw the line at leaving flowers on actual graves.” TJ shook his head, rolling his eyes and chuckling, “Go. You gotta see your mom.”

As Steve walked away, TJ sent a quick text to his own mother, “Thinking of you. I love you. Your ‘other’ son.” Although, as soon as he’d hit send, he regretted the way he’d signed it, and sent another, “I didn’t mean that last part.”

Within seconds, she sent back a response that made him laugh.

                Who’s this?

Still smiling, TJ looked up and around him before typing out his reply.

                Shh I’m in a cemetery

He watched the animated ellipses as she typed. ‘Bet there’s perfect punctuation and spelling’ he thought as the animation continued.

                You’re in the WRONG cemetery.

‘Called it.’ TJ smirked at the display, “even all caps” He said to nobody. Now it was her turn to wait for a response.

                I’m needed here, that makes it the right one. Besides, you have                Dougie and Anne.

‘Look at all the punctuation and properly capitalized words, you’re definitely rubbing off on me mom.’ TJ thought as he waited for the rest of her guilt trip.

                I do miss having you beside me TJ.

TJ looked south to where Steve was kneeling in front of a more modest headstone, holding the dozen roses to his chest, talking to the grass and dirt covering the bones of the mother he had buried as a young man. TJ abandoned the text medium and swiped to phone his mother.

“Hey. I do miss you.” The words were rushed and weepy.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” Elaine sounded emotional from her end too.

“Yeah.” TJ smiled through tears, “Just, you’re there, alive.”

“Ok, I get it now.” TJ could hear Elaine’s smile through the phone. “I love you Tommy. I hope Captain Rogers understands what a good friend you are.”

“Mom, cut it out.”

“I mean it.” there was the Barrish no-nonsense tone. “I also hope the rest of your trip is more enjoyable.”

“It may sound strange,” TJ watched as Steve stood up straight, now holding only one rose, the rest laid lovingly at the base of the stone, and started back toward him. “But it has been enjoyable. I’m gonna let you go. Give Nana a hug for me. Tell everyone I love them.”

TJ tucked his phone away as Steve laid the remaining rose in front of the shared stone at their feet.

~✿~

Steve imagined the three women sharing tears as they watched the stone being placed. Peggy would be standing tall, sharply dressed with not a hair out of place, her red lips quivering – but maybe that was only in his imagination. Ma Barnes and Becky would no doubt be hugging one another, weeping, and wishing for more handkerchiefs. Not able to bury their boys, they’d been grateful for Peggy and her fight to give them something near their home, somewhere to come and mourn. Before he placed the rose at the foot of the stone, Steve pressed it to his lips with a kiss for the women who shed tears on this spot. He’d come to realize the stone wasn’t a symbol of an empty grave; it was a symbol of love.

Comforted by TJ’s silent presence, Steve reflected on how grateful he was to have TJ there with him, Steve felt he could be something around TJ that he found difficult to be around others. He could be sentimental and make soft gestures. It wasn’t quite like the complete, guard down friendship he had with Bucky – Steve closed his eyes tight, mourning that loss even though Bucky was alive – Sam was probably right; he wasn’t that guy anymore.

With tears pricking in his eyes, Steve didn’t look up at TJ, the eye contact or even the bright sky might bring those tears to a head, and he wasn’t sure either of them was prepared for that level of emotion. He rose to his feet, glancing across the way at the array of red roses.

Steve had seen so many cemeteries filled with veterans’ headstones, but this one was the first he remembered ever seeing. First his dad, then alone he had to bury his mom. Not long after, he was there when Bucky had to bury his dad. He’d lost count of how many times his feet had made the same trek to the same three stones before he went to war. Most of his visits here were with Bucky, both before Ma and after. He couldn’t help looking around, expecting, no, hoping to see the familiar face. Steve wondered what he’d do if he did spot him on an occasion like this. Even though he was still actively searching for Bucky, if he saw him today would he make a move? Would Bucky?

Steve buried his hands in his pockets, quietly reflecting on everything crowding his mind, before breaking the silence, “I was about to say I could use a beer, but since it’s all flavor anyway, how do you feel about an old-fashioned milkshake?”

“This place that promises an old-fashioned milkshake also offer burgers? If so, I’m in.”

“Ok. I think I want to change first. Not sure what made me get dressed up for this.”

“Oh, you’re as old-fashioned as those milkshakes, and you were visiting your mother. Or… you were prepared for the paparazzi we encountered on our way over.”

“Probably all of the above.” Steve chuckled. “Maybe I was feeling the nostalgia a little.”

“You’re not the only one; I called my mom while you were over there. I’m starting to realize I take a few things in my life for granted.”

“Don’t wanna make a habit of that.” Steve grinned, throwing an arm across TJ’s shoulders, “Let’s go get some grub.”

Steve stepped through the front door of the soda shop and stopped. The store’s location on the street corner was familiar to him, but the storefront wasn’t. It wasn’t until he was inside that he remembered where he was. The wooden shelves towering above apothecary drawers looked just like they had when he would come in with his mom to get the latest miracle drug that would hopefully make his life a little easier. The far wall had a sampling of those cures behind glass, while the shelves lining the shop were stocked with tourist t-shirts, souvenirs, and saleable treats.

“Steve?” TJ called to him from behind, a note of concern in his voice.

“Sorry,” Steve looked at the pattern in the tile beneath his feet, wondering briefly if it was the same pattern. He stepped out of the doorway, relieved that he wasn’t blocking anyone else’s access to the shop with his reverie. “Where would you like to sit?”

TJ moved around Steve toward the small wooden table in the center of the wall of apothecary shelves. “If you’d rather go somewhere else, if you’d rather get that beer…”

“No.” Steve sat in the chair opposite where TJ was standing, “I didn’t realize it would look the same.”

“You’ve been here bef… Back when…” TJ stammered looking around the quaint shop as he settled onto the wooden chair.

“Used to come in here regularly. These shelves used to hold medicine bottles, like those over there. It’s not exact, but it’s so fucking close.”

TJ smiled, always entertained by Steve’s casual use of the f-word. “Is that good or bad then?” TJ leaned on his elbow on the table.

“It’s ok. The shock is wearing off.” Steve opened the menu. “Sandwiches and dogs, but no burgers, sorry about that.”

“Well, if you have to sit in the place all of your nasty meds came from, I’ll have to make due with an alternative. Mmm. Mac and cheese? That might make up for it. What’s going to make up for the Nostalgia Overload for you Steve?”

“If their egg creams are as good as they’re supposed to be.”

“Seriously?” TJ laughed, “That’s all it would take? You’re really a superhero Steve.”

“To be honest? I’ll either not sleep tonight or have nightmares, but I knew that coming back. I can’t avoid things just because I’ll have a reaction to them, you know?”

“I do know.” TJ nodded before smiling up at their server as she approached. They gave their orders to the young girl in a crisp paper hat and pressed apron. Once she had turned her attentions to another table, TJ asked Steve, “Do you think there’s anything we can do between now and tonight that would help you?”

“Yeah, we can enjoy lunch. You could humor me by hearing some of my ancient tales.”

“I don’t mind the occasional history lesson.” TJ’s smile was friendly and open, “Is there anything you wish somebody would ask you? Or anything you wish they’d stop asking you?”

“I guess it would be nice to have people realize I’m really not as old as they make me out to be. Yeah, I have some odd early years in comparison to someone in their early thirties. Do I seem old to you?”

“Well, you do like old school music,” TJ looked down at the penny tile floor before looking back at Steve, “and you get along with my grandmother.”

“You like the same music and you get along with Maggie.” Steve grinned. “Try again.”

“No.” TJ laughed, “You don’t seem old. Do you feel old?”

“God, do I.” Steve ran his hand through his hair, catching a glimpse of the embossed tin ceiling gleaming reflections of the lights that hung above. “I’m older than the original pharmacy that stood in this building but I look as fresh as those tiles. I’m an impossibility TJ. If anybody ever tells you something is impossible, think of me.”

“Does being here make you feel old then?” TJ looked around the soda shop and back at Steve, inquisitive.

“No.” Steve said decidedly, “What I’m about to say might make me sound old, it’s being in the modern, ugly, plastic places that make me feel old. This? They renewed it. They took the time and made an effort to make this old place new again with the same old materials, or maybe some new ones. People enjoy it, ok maybe it’s quaint, but somebody took their time, took things seriously, and preserved something.”

Steve and TJ both smiled at the server when she came back with their food and drinks. “Are you an aficionado?” She asked with a smile, clearly, she heard at least part of Steve’s passionate speech.

“I guess you could say that.” Steve answered, wondering if TJ would pull the ‘do you know who you’re talking to?’ thing he was used to other people saying. It didn’t come.

“We’re very interested in the history of the area.” TJ said instead. “I’m a musician and he’s an artist, it really sets a mood.”

“Well, if you have any questions that’s the owner.” She smiled again, pointing toward the soda jerk behind the counter.

“Thanks.” TJ nodded, still smiling what Steve knew was his public smile. Once she’d moved on to her next customer, TJ stabbed his fork into the mac and cheese, “I hadn’t ever thought of it that way. I guess our throwaway society might be disturbing. Lucky for you, that means you fit into the farmer’s market variety of guys. Folks like Farmer’s Market Hot.”

“Farmer’s Market Hot?” Steve wasn’t sure he was ready for this explanation but he knew TJ would make it entertaining.

“It’s this rugged but wholesome quality, with an appreciation for artisan cheeses and repurposed goods.”

“I can rebrand that for you right now.” Steve smiled it would turn out he’d be the one to say something entertaining, “Let’s call it Depression Era Chic.”

TJ’s laugh was so robust that people turned to look at the source. All eyes were on them, and recognition started to set in. “Crap, I’m an idiot.” TJ muttered, Steve thought he looked like he’d dive into his mac and cheese to hide if he could.

“No you’re not.” He chuckled, “Apparently, I was amusing for once.”

“Still.” TJ smiled his public smile at the people peering at them. “Look what I’ve gone and done.”

“We.” Steve couldn’t help smiling, “If you laughed at something I said, I’m to blame too.”

~✿~

TJ was mortified. All Steve had wanted was a quiet day, and he’d gone and made an ass of himself braying like one. He felt the eyes of everyone on them as keen as they’d ever been, wondering what Captain America could possibly be up to, being involved with TJ Hammond.

Steve’s reassurance felt canned, he was sure their friendship was beyond that. Yet the doubt was loud as it rushed to his head on the throbbing waves of blood flooding his cheeks and pounding at his temples. The cute wave Steve offered to the kids on the stools at the counter as they spun around to look their way did little to bolster TJ’s self-conscious reservations.

TJ’s plastered smile felt painful as they weathered the curious glances and the “Excuse me, Captain,” and “You’re TJ Hammond” that came from the table closest to them. “Can I get a picture with you?”

TJ drained his milkshake so quickly, for something to do with his hands, that he made his head ache and his stomach protest. He watched Steve take the ‘Thank you for your service’, from a guy who was probably his dad’s age, with a slight blush and a grateful smile. Watching Steve was nearly cathartic, he wasn’t bothered by the two or three people who talked to them and the others who kept whispering, and looking their way didn’t seem to register any sort of concern either.

“How do you do it?” TJ breathed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“They’re just good people. Maybe it’s that Depression Era Chic quality.” Steve winked conspiratorially. TJ managed to smile and relax, but kept his laughter in check this time.

“I thought for sure you’d say “Farmer’s Market Hot”.” TJ fiddled with his fork, the food nearly finished, but his stomach wasn’t up to completing the task.

“You ok?”

TJ didn’t have the ability to lie to Steve, not when he had just been an eager, earnest puppy letting all of the soda shop ogle him and praise him, “probably shouldn’t have inhaled my milkshake.”

Their server picked that moment to pop by and add to TJ’s discomfort, smiling as she said, “You two make the cutest couple.”

Steve, the shit, smiled back at her and thanked her, not only that, he didn’t correct the girl. He asked if she would please add a t-shirt and souvenir glass for each of them to their check.

“You got it.” she smiled, returning to the register to add to their check.

“You’re a cool cucumber, you know that?” TJ asked. “Why didn’t you correct her? People are gonna…”

“TJ, people are gonna say whatever they’re going to say. Why correct her? I’m not the least bit worried.”

“You can’t score if you’re going to let people think you’re hooking up with me.”

“I’m not here to score anything except for lunch.” Steve put his napkin on his plate, “and we've done that. Everything else just adds to the adventure. Unless someone here has caught your eye and I’m in the way.”

“Oh good, for a second there I thought you were gonna say “cockblocking”.” TJ’s luck wasn’t with him, the young girl returned to the table with a bag containing their souvenirs just as he finished his comment. He offered an abrupt apology, and she was as smiley and reassuring as ever. As soon as she walked away with an embarrassingly amused saunter, TJ looked at Steve, “Where’s a good hole in the ground when you need one?”

“I know an empty grave.” Steve deadpanned.

“Gee thanks. Can we get outta here?”

“I hope you weren’t looking forward to a party weekend.” Steve looked at TJ standing next to him on the boardwalk overlooking the shore and crowded beach.

“No. You know me by now. Parties aren’t the best use of my time.”

“Thanks again for coming with me TJ. It was a rough start, and I’m really glad you were there for that. I hope this afternoon made up for it.”

“Does it bother you that people are partying instead of observing the original purpose of the holiday?” TJ leaned against the rail that separated them from the beach.

“No.” Steve smiled. “The men I fought with would rather see people having a good time with their families than worrying too much about bones under the earth. You can’t force people to do things either. I’ve been wondering; did it bother you more that I didn’t tell that waitress that we aren’t a couple? Or that she thought we were?”

“Neither one of those things bothered me.” TJ turned around, bracing his hands on the rail and looking out over the crowds frolicking on the sand. “It’s just that I’m not sure you’re aware, more and more people are going to think things like that if you keep hanging out with me.”

“You trying to tell me we should stop being friends TJ? Because I’ve had a hell of a time since we started hanging out.” Steve’s trusted friends could be counted on one hand, and to tell the truth, this was the most he’d actually discussed a relationship with any of them. “I really hope you aren’t worried about my reputation.”

“Well yeah.” TJ shrugged, “I am. Worried about what people are going to say about you, I mean. No, I don’t want to stop being friends.”

“Then we carry on as we have.” Steve declared. “When I said thank you, it wasn’t out of obligation. I had enough good luck left to find a couple of good friends on this side of the timeline, and you’re definitely one of them.”

“Thank god.” TJ breathed. They stood together shoulder to shoulder, watching as the sky changed colors. “I’m a little short on decent friends myself. I’ve never made the best choices. Never had friends who didn’t want something from me, or couldn’t hook me up with something or someone.”

“You do now.” Steve bumped TJ’s arm with his, a lighthearted gesture of reassurance.

~✿~

[peakyblinders1919]

Dripping in Diamonds Pt. 2

Pt. 1

“Fuck, I can’t believe you did this. Were you ever going to tell me? I ran away from my family for a reason Alfie; they’re shit. I didn’t want to be involved in that life anymore, but I guess it follows me around.” You say harshly, throwing clothes haphazardly into a suitcase on the bed. You wanted your words to hurt, to suggest that Alfie was just as bad as them, which you were slowly starting to realize was true. Of course you knew all along that he was practically the same as your brother’s, Tommy especially, but you chose to ignore it. Now you couldn’t.

“Listen, its best for the company, yeah? Isn’t that what we both want?” He says, trying to stop you but you fight against his grip.

“I want you to stop being a little prick and tell me everything about the business. I want to be your equal, and I definitely don’t want to be kept in the dark.” Your voice sounds harsher than it’s ever been, and his silence is confirmation. You look at him before grabbing your suitcase and walking out of the room.

“Ah, for Christ’s sake, what are you doing Y/N?” He calls, following you.

“Something I never thought I’d have to do; go back to Small Heath and find my family. If you thought for a minute I wasn’t going with you…” You couldn’t finish your sentence as you shook your head at Alfie. Some may say your life together was perfect, and essentially this was your first fight. You had never been so mad at him; felt so betrayed. You had first met him and instantly fell in love with his sometimes indistinguishable rambling, his fiery heart and soul. You opened up to him faster than anyone else, laid it all out on the line, your family history and how you felt about them. And still he had to work with them.

“Y/N, just calm down. The meetings tomorrow here at the bakery, we can relax tonight.” He says, trying to wrap you in his arms but you won’t have it.

“If you want my brothers to work for you, you’ll let me see them before the meeting, otherwise they’ll blow your head off.”

You didn’t care that it was one in the morning, or that all the lights were out. You pounded on the door as hard and long as you had to until Tommy opened it.

“What the fuck do you want?” He says, his eyes half closed and his hand clasped around the end of a gun ‘hidden’ under his night clothes. “Y/N…” He asks, confused.

“Yeah, I’m surprised too.” You say, shoving past him with your suitcase. He pulls out a bottle of whisky, asking the maid to call the family and invites you to sit at the table.

“Tommy, this better be important, do you know what goddamn time it is.” You hear Polly say as she walks in followed by a tired John and grumpy looking Arthur. They follow Tommy’s eyes until they see you sitting at the table, a whisky in your hand.

“Y/N?” They say altogether, surprised.

“Sit.” Tommy says and everyone does. The tension is heavy in the air around you all.

“What’s this all about, Y/N?” He says once you’ve let 20 minutes go by in awkward silence.

“Solomons.” You say simply, not looking at anyone.

“Solomons, eh?” He asks, leaning to flick his ashes into the tray. “How do you know about Solomons?”

There’s a long moment of silence as you sip your drink and Tommy smokes, the real conversation between the two of you as everyone else watches. “He’s my husband.”

Tommy’s face is absolutely blank as he processes this, standing up and slamming his hands on the desk, John and Arthur standing up and yelling words at you. You have no idea what they’re saying.

“Listen!” You shout, getting everyones attention. They all look at you, waiting for you to explain yourself. “Tommy, before you say anything, know that I didn’t know he’d be working with you.” You interject before he can go off on you. He takes a few steps back and forth, breathing rapidly trying to figure out what to say, how to react without making you leave again. Thankfully he has time.

“Married?” John starts.

“To Alfie fucking Solomons?” Arthur finishes, looking at you.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Tommy finally asks.

“He treats me right, he loves me, I married him. He told me about his ‘business’, but I stayed because he let’s me work with him, something you guys wouldn’t let me do.” You say your voice raising.

“Yeah because you didn’t want to.” Tommy shouts, standing up angrily.

“That’s because what you were doing was wrong.” You shout back.

“And you don’t think what he’s doing is wrong, Y/N? Hmmm?” He says, furiously.

“What the fuck did I even come here for? I knew you wouldn’t be able to understand.” You say, getting up and walking out of the room, hiding the tears about to spill over. Your reminded why you left in the first place; it was like your family name was cursed and bad luck followed you everywhere. You were the little, incompetent sister of the scary, powerful gang members who treated you like you couldn’t take care of yourself. They acted like they were in charge of you, but you knew you were in charge of yourself. And that’s why Alfie was different; why you were able to look past what he did for a living to be with him.

You were outside clearing your head, willing yourself not too get too worked up about everything when Polly approached you slowly. She understood.

“It’s cold out, it’s late, come on inside. We can set you up in the spare room.” She says, wrapping a coat around you.

“No Poll. I think I’ll go stay in a hotel. I’ll see them later, at the meeting. You know, if they’ll still do business with him.” You say, the feeling of defeat washing over you as you walk towards the car.

You wake a couple of hours later, feeling tired and drained. You realize the meeting has already started, and quickly get dressed, opening the door to leave only to find the diamond necklace Alfie gave you the other night, resting in a box. There’s a note attached, saying he was sorry and if you were willing to forgive him, you’d come to the meeting. You were already planning on it, but now all you wanted was to see him. What happened last night overshadowed Alfie not asking you before agreeing to work with you brothers

You find your way back to the bakery, walking into the meeting showing off your diamonds. You walk right up to Alfie, sitting in his lap and laying a kiss on him under your brother’s watchful eyes.

“Don’t touch her.” Arthur growls under his breath. You get up, knowing you’ve made them mad.

“Look, fellows, marrying your sister here was not a business plan on my part. I just met her and we fell in love. I didn’t do it to get closer to you guys or anything…honestly I didn’t want to work with you fuckers.” He begins.

“Wait, what?” You say, looking at him.

“Sure, it’d be easy for us to live our own separate lives, but you would have found of eventually.” He says, looking at your brothers across the table. “This is a truce, ok? Surrender, waving the white flag. No more fighting between the Peaky Blinders and the Jews. We work together, like family, defeat Sabini, you give me some of your men, and maybe Y/N will want to talk to you again, if you comply willingly of course.” He rambles, sitting back with pride like he just figured everything out.

“You think it’s that easy, huh?” Tommy says.

“You took our sister from us.” John says.

“No, mate, you drove her away. I’m bringing her back. She’s bright, she is. She knows what’s best for everyone; I need better security, you need Sabini off your backs. So, do we have a deal?”

“Alfie…” You say hesitantly, your heart shattering a bit when you realize he did this all for you. Everything he did was for you. Sure, he knew you had bad history with your family, but he wanted to right that. He knew family was everything, and you deserved to have yours back in your life. You look at your brothers longingly, hoping they’ll accept, so you could start to rebuild what you had lost. You did love them after all, they were there for you when no one else was.

“Y/N, is this what you want?” Tommy says calmly, looking at you.

“Yes.” You say after a moment of hesitation. “I think it’d be best for everyone.”

“Then we have a deal.” He says without consulting anyone else, giving you a soft nod. A smile slowly crosses your face as you look at Tommy. There’s a hint of a smile on his lips as you walk over to him slowly, hugging him for the first time in years. He hugs you back, glad to have you back and sorry for everything that’s happened.

You turn back to Alfie, smothering him in kisses, thanking him relentlessly for what he’s done.

“Eh, not in front of your brothers, ok? It’s too weird.” He says, pulling away, making everyone laugh as your brothers agree, seeing themselves out.

Part 2- the request was your dating Alfie and your a Shelby. Hope you enjoy! Sorry the all the angst lately, idk what’s up but yea... Feedback is appreciated! gifs from @whichisnone XxX

[fashiontrendin-blog]

These Women's Lives Changed After They Gave Hillary Clinton The Blazers Off Their Backs

http://fashion-trendin.com/these-womens-lives-changed-after-they-gave-hillary-clinton-the-blazers-off-their-backs/

These Women's Lives Changed After They Gave Hillary Clinton The Blazers Off Their Backs

Hillary Clinton’s affection for pantsuits is as familiar in politics and pop culture as the iconic politician herself.

Throughout her time in public life, Clinton’s wardrobe has been judged ruthlessly. Her clothing choices once again made waves when she accepted the “Champion of the Century” award at the Planned Parenthood 100th Anniversary Gala in May 2017. But that time, it was because she had embraced a refreshingly and decidedly chic new vibe. 

It set off a lot of questions: Who designed this fashionable piece? And did it signal Clinton was turning over a new leaf, style-wise?

Clothing line Argent, which bills itself as selling “functional workwear with attitude,” is the brainchild of Sali Christeson and Eleanor Turner. Christeson began her career in finance and switched gears when she noticed a pocket-sized hole in the market when it came to practical, chic workwear for women; Turner is a designer whose 10-year career in fashion includes work at J. Crew and Tommy Hilfiger.

They met through mutual friends and bonded over a shared frustration with the lack of stylish wardrobe options for women with lots to do and lots to carry. Together, they hoped they could change the conversation about and improve options for a new generation of professional women. 

Clinton attended the Professional Women of California Conference in March 2017. Argent held a pop-up show at the conference, and Christeson and Turner saw the opportunity to get on her radar. They wore items from their line that they thought the former secretary of state might like. It worked. 

HuffPost chatted with Christeson and Turner about that first meeting, how it changed their lives and what’s next for their brand. 

What was it like to meet Hillary Clinton? 

SC: She came out with this new attitude and amazing energy, and you could feel it. The biggest takeaway for us was like, “Oh my god, she’s not stopping. She’s ready to go to again.” We had chills ― it was incredible. [The 2016 election] was still so raw for everyone. It was healing. She just came out with power. People actually stormed the stage after. 

ET: Oh, yeah. And she was so polite, signing and smiling. Meanwhile, Secret Service is coming in like scrambling to get everyone away from her. 

Did you just go up to her? 

SC: We get herded into a freight elevator, we don’t really know what’s in store. We got up there so fast. It went from us strategizing what we were going to say in line to us being there in front of her so fast.

That must have been nerve-wracking! Did you always plan to lead with the clothes?

ET: Yes. We knew we had to. We planned our outfits. I wore the blazer she ended up wearing to Planned Parenthood. I knew she might like that one. And I knew Sali would look really streamlined next to me in hunter green and it would just be a good balance of what we offer. [Clinton] was behind this screen, and we just saw people running in, taking a photo and running out. Not even saying anything to her. We were like, “OK, we don’t have too much time, so we have to keep it short and impactful.”

What did you do when you got to the front of the line?

SC: We literally walked up, holding our blazers open. I said, “I quit my job two years ago at Cisco, she quit her job at J. Crew.” El jumped in and was like, “We make pantsuits,” and Clinton’s jaw just dropped. It was a physical reaction. It’s the worst photo I’ve ever taken because I was talking to her. I was like, “You would wear this? On stage? This is amazing.”

We’ve experienced sexism from both male and female at every level. We’re young, we’re female, we’re targeting women with our product ― that makes it harder. Sali Christeson

ET: Then she started asking a ton of questions. “What is this brand? What is it called? Do we have your contact? How come I didn’t know about this sooner?”

SC: We were showing her the functionality of the clothing. El had me rip off my jacket to show her the band in the sleeves we actually filed a patent on.

ET: There’s a band in the cuffs of our blouses so when you roll the sleeves up, it stays.

SC: It’s surreal. Words come out of your mouth, but I’m not sure which words they were. 

Is that where you met Clinton aide Huma Abedin, too? 

SC: We were talking to [Clinton] and she was signaling to her staff that she was interested in staying connected. We were hugging every stranger we saw, and then Huma just popped out of nowhere and talked to us for a few minutes. 

EL:  She was like, “What are these amazing clothes? Where can I find them?”

SC: It’s just been such an obvious gap for so long and not every woman wants to wear a dress. Women like that especially find their power in suiting. So we ran back to our booth and grabbed everything we could in their sizes. 

But they did ask for your contact information. Did you think they’d get in touch?

ET: We were like, “Oh my god. We lost our chance.” It was pretty deflating. Her staff had said from behind us in line that they were in touch with us and knew where to find us, so we maybe knew they knew how to get in touch. But we were like, how many times have they said that? These are really busy people. How can they even think to follow up?

SC: They did. Her chief of staff/executive assistant/doer of all things called us at 9:30 that night. 

And how long after that call did Clinton wear one of the pieces? 

ET: It was about a month later. They never confirmed, but we knew there was a chance. We did sort of get a heads up that we should be watching for her at the Planned Parenthood 100th Anniversary Gala. We started following the hashtags, that’s when she hit the step-and-repeat wearing the Basketweave Tie Blazer. I was out to dinner in New York and I fell out of my chair. I was just on the floor at Rubirosa.

SC: I did something similar, and I don’t normally react this way to things. I was walking down the street in San Francisco and just sort of collapsed. I just fell to my knees. 

That’s such a huge moment for any brand, let alone a start-up still getting its footing. How did it change your lives?

SC: I think when you’re building a start-up, something people constantly ask is: How do you stay positive? How do you keep going? That moment was really good for our team, just to validate what we were building. Morale shot up and just hasn’t gone back. I feel like there are these little wins that you really latch on to and it keeps you moving forward. 

ET: To have someone of that caliber ― who can literally wear whatever they want, whenever they want, choose to wear our stuff ― it gives us a lot of credibility in terms of the quality of the product and just speaking to it. 

Sali, you quit your job and left a path you created for 10 years to pursue this clothing line. Were you scared? What advice would you give someone who might be thinking about pursuing their own passion project?

SC: That decade of experience I had working and pursuing my MBA is pretty invaluable in terms of managing up and down, not being above any task, really being able to get your hands dirty and just learning firsthand. Coupling that with experience across a couple of industries, I think that helped improve my chances of actually starting something. 

ET: Learning is the biggest thing. I think people want to do this but they don’t have some of the key learnings you get from being in the workforce. I worked at Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew, Tory Burch ― all those companies showed me different facets of the industry and different things that informed my experience at Argent and helped for this company. Get some experience. And then be prepared to be so scrappy. 

How were you guys scrappy in the beginning?

SC: We’re still scrappy. (laughs) You’re going to be disappointed, beat up, let down, question it and be questioned. It’s a form of sexism neither of us have every experienced for sure. 

SC: The start-up world is like the Wild Wild West, it’s not like a protected organization where you have HR. We’ve experienced sexism from both male and female at every level. We’re young, we’re female, we’re targeting women with our product ― that makes it harder.  

Any specifically bad moments?

ET: We had one potential investor ― we did not take money from him ― tell us that we had just gotten our initial raise because we were just two pretty faces. 

What kept you going through moments like that?

ET:  Conviction. Knowing this was a problem for women that we could solve and never wavering. People will waver, but you can’t.

Your price point is more reasonable compared to some of the other items at, say, Clinton’s disposal, but they are a splurge for a young woman starting out in her career. What is the argument for investing in something from Argent? 

ET: You’re judged by what you wear. Invest in what you wear.

SC: Another piece of it is we’ve heard from customers who are moving away from fast fashion for environmental purposes. We’re offering pieces intended to be in your closet for decades. They’re season-less, they’re high quality. You don’t see this price point for such high-quality pieces. There are studies now that quantify what you’re wearing with your bottom line over the course of your career, so the investment is going to pay off. One of my favorite things about Hillary is that she has reworn some of the jackets we’ve given her within a week. You wear and rewear, and that’s such a great example we should be setting. Shifting the mindset to just investing in a couple of staples is important. 

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.  

Argent clothing (which, by the way, can totally also be worn outside of the workplace) can be found at various pop-ups around the country, but you can schedule an appointment with the brand, too. Head to the Argent website to learn more.